LPG Crisis: Govt Plans Induction Cooktops for Homes Amid West Asia Tensions

Tensions in West Asia, or the Middle East, have impacted India's fuel supply. Crude oil and cooking gas (LPG) have become scarce in the country, with LPG being the most affected. Meanwhile, the central government has accelerated efforts to increase domestic production of induction heaters. This step has been taken to reduce dependence on cooking gas.

According to government sources, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) held a high-level inter-ministerial meeting on Thursday. The main objective of the meeting was to formulate a strategy to significantly increase the production of induction heaters and related cookware within the country.

Senior officials from several ministries, including DPIIT Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal, and DGFT chief Lav Agarwal, attended the meeting. The main focus of the discussion was on accelerating the entire manufacturing chain of induction-based appliances and related crockery.

The move follows a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. Sources say PM Modi directed ministries to "look to the future and plan today" to address uncertain geopolitical situations.

The government fears that if the conflict in the Middle East continues, supplies of crude oil and LPG could be affected. India imports a significant portion of its crude oil and LPG needs from Gulf countries.

The government is now exploring multiple options. It plans to promote electric cooking to reduce pressure on household energy consumption. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is working on increasing the coverage of piped natural gas (PNG) to reduce dependence on LPG.

Experts believe that this step will not only help in dealing with the current crisis but will also strengthen energy security in the long run.

Officials have also reviewed the supply chain of petrochemical products and gunny bags, fearing their availability could be affected if the conflict in the Middle East continues.