In a conversation with ChiniMandi, Prashant Jaiswal, Vice President, GEMA, said that ethanol-based cooking fuel represents a strategic, domestically produced, clean energy solution that can complement LPG and strengthen national energy resilience.
A targeted government initiative can accelerate the adoption of ethanol cookstoves and unlock significant economic, environmental, and strategic benefits for India.
Why is there a need to explore alternatives to LPG for cooking fuel?
India has significantly expanded access to clean cooking energy through LPG distribution, particularly under schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. However, the country remains heavily dependent on imported LPG to meet domestic demand.
In an increasingly uncertain global environment marked by geopolitical tensions and wars, international energy supply chains are vulnerable to disruptions. Volatility in LPG supply and pricing can therefore pose risks to IndiaтАЩs energy security and the affordability of cooking fuel. This makes it important for India to diversify its cooking energy sources and develop domestically produced alternatives.
How can ethanol serve as a cooking fuel alternative?
India is already among the worldтАЩs largest ethanol producers under the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme and the National Policy on Biofuels. While ethanol is currently used mainly for transport fuel blending, it can also be used as a clean cooking fuel through ethanol-based cookstoves.
Ethanol burns with a clean blue flame, produces minimal smoke or particulate emissions, and offers high combustion efficiency. These characteristics make ethanol cookstoves a viable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional biomass fuels, while also serving as a supplementary option to LPG.
Why is ethanol as a cooking fuel strategically important during global conflicts?
Recent geopolitical conflicts have shown how energy supply chains can be disrupted during wars, trade restrictions, or shipping bottlenecks.
IndiaтАЩs reliance on LPG imports creates vulnerability because supply depends on international shipping routes, prices are influenced by global markets, and disruptions can occur during geopolitical crises.
Promoting ethanol-based cooking fuel can reduce dependence on imported LPG, utilise domestically produced biofuel, and provide a strategic backup cooking energy system during supply disruptions. Since ethanol can be produced from domestic agricultural feedstocks, it also strengthens IndiaтАЩs energy independence.
What economic benefits could ethanol cooking fuel bring to India?
Expanding ethanol usage for cooking could stimulate IndiaтАЩs bioeconomy ecosystem. Increased demand for agricultural feedstocks would benefit farmers and rural industries, while ethanol production and distribution could create new employment opportunities.
Additionally, domestic manufacturing of ethanol cookstoves would support startups and MSMEs, strengthening the local industry. Overall, such development aligns closely with the governmentтАЩs Atmanirbhar Bharat vision of building a self-reliant economy.
How do ethanol cookstoves benefit the environment and public health?
Ethanol cookstoves offer several environmental and health advantages. They significantly reduce indoor air pollution compared to firewood and charcoal, lowering particulate emissions and improving household air quality.
Reduced reliance on firewood can also help curb deforestation in rural areas. Furthermore, ethanol combustion generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions, supporting IndiaтАЩs climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
What kind of government initiative could support ethanol cooking fuel adoption?
The Government could consider launching the National Ethanol Clean Cooking Initiative. This could include pilot programs distributing ethanol cookstoves in regions with high firewood dependence, such as tribal areas and forest-fringe villages.
The initiative could also encourage startups and MSMEs to manufacture ethanol stoves under the Make in India programme. Existing ethanol production and fuel distribution networks could be leveraged to supply ethanol for cooking purposes. In addition, the government could establish safety, quality, and fuel standards for ethanol cooking fuel and stove design.
What could be the long-term impact of scaling ethanol cookstoves in India?
If implemented at scale, ethanol cookstoves could provide an alternative clean cooking energy source that complements LPG. This would reduce reliance on imported LPG, strengthen IndiaтАЩs energy security during global crises, and expand the domestic biofuel economy. At the same time, it could improve public health outcomes and deliver environmental benefits by reducing emissions and deforestation.
