Gas Shortage! Ethanol Stoves Emerge as LPG Alternative, Claimed to Save up to Rp425 Trillion

The current energy crisis is hitting developing countries as global geopolitical conflicts intensify. This time, India is facing significant pressure due to disruptions in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplies, which have long been a staple for millions of households.

This supply disruption was triggered by the halt in energy distribution through the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of war in the Middle East region. The impact is immediately felt domestically, with long queues of people waiting to obtain gas cylinders.

As the world’s second-largest LPG buyer, India heavily relies on supplies from the Middle East. When distribution routes are disrupted, a crisis becomes inevitable.

In this situation, various industry groups are urging the local government to consider cheaper and more sustainable fuel alternatives, one of which is ethanol-based stoves.

Organisations such as the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI), and Grain Ethanol Manufacturers Association (GEMA) are actively campaigning for the use of ethanol as a cooking fuel, both for households and the commercial sector.

Citing a report from the International Institute for Sustainable Development, the use of ethanol and biogas has the potential to save India’s LPG subsidies by up to US$25 billion, equivalent to Rp425 trillion, in the coming years.

“Ethanol-based cooking is not just about replacing LPG,” as quoted from a Khaleej Times report on Thursday, 9 April 2026.

FIPI downstream director R.S. Ravi revealed that several institutions, such as the LPG Equipment Research Centre and various Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), are developing more efficient and compatible ethanol stoves.

He encouraged industry players to quickly build a strong ethanol supply chain, including collaborating with stove manufacturers so that this technology can soon be widely adopted by the public.

Meanwhile, GEMA is also urging the government to promptly launch pilot projects to test the effectiveness of ethanol stoves, both in households and commercial kitchens.

The prolonged LPG crisis has even forced a number of small and medium-sized enterprises to halt operations due to difficulties in obtaining fuel.