Proto Energy

What Proto Energy does

Proto Energy Limited is a privately held Kenyan LPG company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Nairobi that operates across the full LPG value chain: cylinder manufacturing, refilling, bulk supply, home delivery, and automotive autogas. The company manufactures LPG cylinders at its Kabati plant under international safety guidelines and is licensed by the Kenya Bureau of Standards and EPRA; cylinders are produced under the Progas and Seagas brands in 6KG, 13KG and 50KG sizes and tracked via proprietary QR-coded safety labeling.

The firm serves five segments: households (via 6KG and 13KG cylinders and refills), HORECA (hotels, restaurants, cafes and caterers), industrial and processing customers, institutions (schools, hospitals, government, religious organizations), and the automotive segment through its Otogas sub-brand, which includes vehicle conversion services and at least seven company-owned refueling stations across Nairobi. Distribution to households runs through a 20+ distributor/dealership franchise network delivering within 24 working hours, supplemented by a Gobeba online ordering partnership and a web-based distributor locator.

Revenue is generated through outright cylinder sales, refills, transactional bulk LPG supply contracts with installation and scheduled delivery, automotive autogas sales at refueling stations, and B2B/government contracted bulk installations. The executive team is led by CEO Joel Kamau and includes a CFO, CCO, MD-Otogas, Chief People Officer, Chief Legal Officer, and heads of Bulk Sales, Safety and Sustainability, Internal Audit, and Marketing.

Name

Proto Energy

Legal name

Proto Energy Limited

Website

https://protoenergy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Proto Energy is a privately held Kenyan LPG company that manufactures, refills and distributes Progas and Seagas cylinders (6KG, 13KG, 50KG) and runs Otogas automotive LPG refueling, serving households, HORECA, industrial, institutional and vehicle customers nationwide via a 20+ distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LPG Energy Supply

NAICS

Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (324)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533)

akta.pro primary industry

NGL/LPG Distribution / Local Delivery Pipelines (Terminal-to-Market) (TLAGAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

NGL/LPG Storage & Fractionation Terminals (TLAGAKAE), LPG / Propane-Butane Products Pipeline Transportation (TLAGABAH)

Keywords

• LPG distribution
• Cylinder manufacturing
• Automotive LPG
• Clean cooking fuel
• Bulk gas supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. LPG Cylinder Sales: Sale of LPG cylinders in various sizes (6KG, 13KG, 50KG) to households and businesses. Includes outright purchase and refill options through distributor network.
2. Bulk LPG Supply: Bulk LPG supply for commercial and industrial clients including hotels, restaurants, institutions, and industrial operations. Includes installation and delivery services.
3. Cylinder Manufacturing: Manufacturing and refilling of LPG cylinders for domestic and industrial sectors. Revenue from manufacturing services and cylinder refilling operations.
4. Otogas (Automotive LPG): LPG refueling services for converted vehicles through company-owned refueling stations. Revenue from sale of LPG autogas to automotive customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Proto Energy manufactures, distributes, and refills LPG cylinders in 6KG, 13KG, and 50KG sizes for domestic and commercial customers across Kenya under the Progas and Seagas brands. The company also supplies bulk LPG to HORECA, industrial, and institutional clients with installation and scheduled delivery, runs Otogas automotive LPG refueling stations for converted vehicles, and manufactures LPG cylinders locally in compliance with Kenya Bureau of Standards requirements.

Product overview

Proto Energy is Kenya's leading LPG company offering a comprehensive portfolio of energy solutions. The product portfolio centers on LPG cylinders in three sizes (6KG for home/solo use, 13KG for regular household cooking, and 50KG for commercial/industrial use) sold under Progas and Seagas sub-brands. Services span the entire value chain: Home Delivery for domestic cylinder refills and outright purchases, Bulk LPG Supply with installation and delivery for HORECA and industrial clients, Otogas automotive LPG for converted vehicles, and Cylinder Manufacturing for domestic and industrial cylinders. The integrated offering combines physical LPG products with distribution logistics, installation services, and refueling station networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Progas: LPG cylinder brand for domestic use, available in 6KG, 13KG, and 50KG sizes.
• Seagas
• Otogas

Products and services

• 6KG LPG Cylinder Compact and portable LPG cylinder aimed at quick meals, solo cooking, apartments, and smaller households, with easy connection to standard burners and an efficient, smokeless, consistent flame.
• 13KG LPG Cylinder Domestic LPG cylinder sized for everyday home cooking in medium to large households with regular to heavy cooking needs, offering longer usage time between refills and cost-effectiveness over time.
• 50KG LPG Cylinder High-capacity commercial LPG cylinder designed for hotels, restaurants, institutions, and industrial operations requiring bulk LPG, usable individually or manifolded for extended use.
• Home Delivery LPG Service LPG cylinder delivery service for domestic customers, offering outright purchase and refill orders via a network of 20+ distributors across Kenya with delivery in less than 24 working hours.
• Bulk LPG Supply Commercial LPG supply for HORECA, institutions, and industrial customers, including bulk storage tanks, installation, and scheduled delivery services.
• Otogas Automotive LPG LPG autogas solution for converted vehicles, offering conversion services, refueling stations, and maintenance for dual-fuel cars, with LPG positioned as up to 50% cheaper per litre than petrol or diesel.
• Cylinder Manufacturing In-house LPG cylinder manufacturing and refilling services for domestic and industrial demand, manufactured to strict international safety guidelines and compliant with the Kenya Bureau of Standards.
• Bulk LPG Installation Custom-engineered bulk LPG installation services for commercial kitchens, designed to meet unique energy requirements with seamless integration and long-term cost savings.
• Bulk LPG Delivery Premium bulk LPG delivery service for commercial use, ensuring consistent supply for hotels, restaurants, and industrial operations with flexible scheduling and adherence to safety standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• LPG is up to 50% cheaper per litre compared to petrol or diesel, with vehicle owners reporting savings of up to 40%
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• GobebaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline ordering platform partnership allowing customers to order Proto Energy (Progas and Seagas) LPG cylinders through Gobeba's e-commerce platform for home delivery.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hass Petroleum (Kenya): East African downstream oil marketer with LPG distribution operations in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. Overlaps with Proto Energy on household cylinders, bulk LPG, and regional LPG logistics.
• Galana Oil Kenya: Kenyan downstream oil company distributing LPG cylinders and petroleum products. Direct competitor to Proto Energy in household and small commercial LPG segments.
• Equator Bottlers (Kenya LPG): East African LPG bottling and distribution player with cylinder refilling operations. Comparable to Proto Energy on the cylinder refilling and distribution side of the value chain.
• National Oil Corporation of Kenya: Kenyan state-affiliated downstream oil and gas company distributing LPG cylinders and bulk LPG. Competes with Proto Energy in domestic and commercial LPG segments across Kenya.
• Oilibya Kenya (Puma Energy): Multinational downstream fuel marketer with LPG operations in Kenya. Competes directly with Proto Energy on cylinder distribution and bulk supply to HORECA and industrial customers.
• Vivo Energy Kenya (Shell licensee): Shell-licensed downstream operator in Kenya offering LPG alongside petrol, diesel, and lubricants. Competes with Proto Energy on household cylinders, bulk supply, and forecourt LPG.
• TotalEnergies Marketing Kenya: Subsidiary of TotalEnergies distributing LPG cylinders, bulk LPG, and automotive fuels in Kenya. Directly competes with Proto Energy across household, HORECA, and autogas segments with global procurement and brand strength.

Emerging players

• M-Gas (Kenya): Kenyan pay-as-you-go LPG provider targeting low-income households with smart metering. Addresses the same household LPG segment as Proto Energy via a different (financing-led) distribution model.

Others

• African Clean Energy (ACE): Clean cooking appliance and LPG solution provider in East Africa. Adjacent competitor in the Kenyan clean-cooking ecosystem that intersects with Proto Energy's household LPG customer base.

Regional players

• Gas Yetu: East African LPG brand focused on Tanzania and Kenya markets with cylinder distribution and bulk supply. Comparable to Proto Energy's cylinder/bulk LPG model with adjacent geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ProGasKe
• Facebookfacebook.com/Proto-Energy-Limited-61559697682480
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/proto-energy-limited

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Proto Energy