Faced with the scarcity of domestic gas in certain towns, the Beninese devote themselves to wood energy

Formerly neglected in favor of domestic gas, middle-income households in Benin’s large cities are increasingly using wood energy (charcoal) to cope with scarcity but also speculation. the price of domestic gas, found Xinhua in several towns in southern Benin.

“I have adopted domestic gas for decades for my food cooking needs. But faced with the situation that we have been observing for the past few months, in particular the speculation of the price of this fuel, I have turned to using energy wood,” PĂ©lagie Dossou, a housewife in Cotonou, told Xinhua.

For Mrs. Dossou, since the advent of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, we observe not only the scarcity of domestic gas in Beninese towns but also the speculation of its price.

“It is very difficult for us consumers of domestic gas to refill our cylinders in recent days. The product is not only not found in the usual places of supply, but its price increases day by day without taking into account the one set by the government”, she lamented, specifying that instead of 795 CFA francs per kilogram, or 4,770 CFA francs for the six-kilogram bottle, this fuel which is becoming rare in Beninese cities is sold at 5,500 francs CFA the six-kilogram bottle.

Faced with this situation of scarcity and speculation in the price of domestic gas in the big cities of Benin, middle-income households are turning to the use of wood energy.

“We have been observing for some time a rush of Beninese towards our charcoal sales stalls”, rejoiced Benjamine Assogba, charcoal seller in Godomey, a town located about twenty kilometers north of Cotonou, specifying that in the space of three months, it has doubled its turnover.

But according to environmental specialist Delphin Gandonou, this rush for charcoal can increase the pressure on forests.

“Gas for domestic use preserves the environment more than other fuels, whereas to have charcoal, you have to cut down the tree”, he pointed out.

According to a recent study, carried out by the Directorate of Forests and Natural Resources, Benin records an annual loss of more than 70,000 hectares of forest out of a forest cover estimated at 2,650,000 hectares. (Xinhua)

Source : https://www.impact.sn/Face-a-la-rarete-du-gaz-dome…

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