Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) firm Proto Energy will install autogas filling pumps at all stations owned by Ola Energy Kenya in Nairobi, as the firms move to tap into growing demand from gas-powered vehicles.
The companies signed the deal yesterday that will see autogas pumps installed across all Ola Energy’s stations in the capital before scaling it across the country. Ola has over 100 fuel stations in Kenya.
Uptake of autogas has been on a steady rise in the past few years, with official data showing that over 20,000 LPG-powered vehicles (mostly converted units) in the country in March 2024 as motorists turn to the fuel whose price per litre is cheaper by at least Sh60 compared to a litre of petrol and diesel.
Converting the vehicles to run on gas entails adding a separate fuel system and tank for autogas, making the vehicles dual-fuel (able to switch between LPG and diesel or petrol) even while in motion.
A litre of autogas is retailing between Sh95 and Sh115 in Nairobi compared to Sh184.52 and Sh171.47 per litre of petrol and diesel respectively, highlighting the fuel savings that are attracting operators of ride-hailing services and Public Service Vehicles.
The commodity is sold by multiple players and its price is not regulated.
‘This partnership with OLA Energy allows us to take OTO Gas closer to the everyday motorist by integrating LPG into a trusted retail environment,’ Joel Kamau, the CEO of Proto Energy said on Wednesday.
‘Leveraging our existing network allows us to introduce cleaner fuel solutions without requiring entirely new infrastructure. This model is commercially sound, scalable and aligned with the future of energy retailing in Kenya,’ Mohamed Elhoderi, the Managing Director of Ola Energy added.
Proto and Ola did not disclose the revenue sharing ratio under the deal.
Inadequate refilling stations for autogas is one of the key hurdles in growing uptake of LPG-powered vehicles, highlighting the opportunity for Ola and Proto.
Like many other economies, Kenya is racing to ramp up the number of vehicles running on autogas and electricity in order to cut environmental pollution caused by fossil fuels.
Mr Kamau had last year disclosed that the company has been recording a growing number of motorists, especially commercial ones seeking to convert their vehicles to autogas.
It costs an average of Sh65,000 to convert a diesel or petrol-powered vehicle to autogas. Upon conversion, a vehicle can still use either diesel or petrol. Proto is one of the firms converting petrol or diesel-powered vehicles to autogas.
Ola Energy is the fourth biggest oil marketer in Kenya and had a market share of 4.3 percent as at June 2025, with the deal with Proto set to contribute to its revenue.
Mr Kamau had last year disclosed that Proto Energy would rely on a mix of its own autogas filling stations and partnering with oil marketers to deliver a last-mile model of the commodity and ensure that motorists outside the major cities can charge their vehicles.