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The government has launched a programme to distribute 350,000 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders and stoves free of charge in rural districts by the end of 2016. Phase one of the programme involves the distribution of 53,000 six-kilogramme gas cylinders and stoves with all related accessories in 13 districts by the end of 2014. Under the programme, initiated by the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, beneficiaries will be given 6kg gas cylinders and accessories worth GH�160 free of charge but will be required to pay for the gas. Mini-gas-refilling plants and vending points would be set up for the beneficiaries to go and exchange their used cylinders with already filled and checked gas cylinders. The National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company, the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST), and the Energy Commission are supporting the rural LPG promotion programme, which was launched at Derma in the Tano South District in the Brong Ahafo Region last Friday. A total of 250 gas cylinders and stoves were given out to registered people at Derma at the launch, and a total of 4,000 gas cylinders and stoves are to be distributed in the Tano South District Assembly within the next 10 days. The launch was held on the theme: "Promoting the Use of LPG as a Cleaner, Healthier and Safer Fuel for Cooking and Creating Jobs." The programme had already been piloted at Garu in the Garu-Tempane District in the Upper East Region last year with the distribution of 1,500 gas cylinders and accessories. Energy Minister In a speech read on his behalf at the launch, the Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said the distribution of the gas cylinders was to protect women and children from health hazards associated with the use of firewood. Besides, he said, it would save women and children from walking long distances in search of firewood. Mr Buah said the increased use of gas cylinders would reduce the felling of trees and consequently save the forest and the climate. "In essence, the Rural LPG Promotion Programme aims at reversing the detrimental effect of the continuous burning of some 13 million tonnes of firewood annually on our environment. " It is expected that the government would, through this programme, improve LPG access in rural areas from the current three per cent to 15 per cent," he said. Jobs The minister said his ministry was in partnership with gas companies to put up gas refilling plants and vending points at nearby points to facilitate the replacement of gas cylinders. He said about 5,000 youth would be engaged to do the distribution of gas cylinders on tricycles. Caution Mr Buah urged all users of LPG to endeavour to observe the basic safety precautions necessary to ensure optimum safety and security. He particularly asked the people to prevent children from fidgeting with the gas cylinders. Gas projects He said plans were far advanced for the construction of a 10-inch LPG pipeline from the Tema Jetty to Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) in conjunction with TOR and the private sector to add to the existing six-inch pipeline. Besides, he said, the government would support the construction of LPG storage tanks to increase the nation�s storage capacity to the required 100,000 tonnes in the long term. Deputy Minister The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Hannah Bisiw, said the distribution of the gas cylinders was a demonstration of President John Dramani Mahama's commitment to reaching out and addressing the needs of women. The District Chief Executive for Tano South, Mr Bukari Zakari Anaba, assured the people in the area that the government would ensure constant supply of gas to them.