Centre pushes induction stoves amid energy crisis

With global crude oil prices surging past $100 per barrel amid the West Asia crisis, the government has begun nudging households and industries to shift to alternative energy sources as it seeks to ease pressure on domestic fuel supplies and reduce dependence on imports.

- Rituraj Baruah & Manas Pimpalkhare

Amid concerns over availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), consumers have been encouraged to move to electric cookstoves and piped natural gas (PNG), while industries reliant on commercial LPG have been asked to move to PNG and electric furnaces.

“There is pressure on LPG and that's why repeated requests have been made to consumers to shift to other available energy sources—PNG or electric cookstoves,” Sujata Sharma, joint secretary in the petroleum ministry, said at a media briefing on Monday.

She added that India has made adequate efforts over the past 45 days to tie up supplies for LPG, crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet the demand and keep things under control, and pointed to a diversified base of 40 countries for crude imports.