Stakeholders in India’s petroleum sector have urged major industry players to explore the use of ethanol as a clean cooking fuel for households. The aim is to reduce dependence on imported LPG and expand the use of biofuels across the country.
Speaking at an industry event, RS Ravi from Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry called on companies to work towards developing ethanol-based cooking solutions. He highlighted that research is already underway at institutions like the LPG Equipment Research Centre (LERC) and various IITs, where ethanol-compatible cooking stoves are being developed. Prototypes are expected to be ready soon.
Ravi encouraged the All India Distillers’ Association and its members to take a lead role by collaborating with manufacturers to scale up production of these stoves. He also stressed the need to build a strong supply chain that can deliver ethanol directly to households, which would require new distribution models and last-mile delivery systems.
He noted that the ethanol industry currently supplies fuel in bulk to oil companies, but shifting to household use would require a completely different approach. Key challenges include deciding how ethanol will be packaged, transported, and safely delivered for cooking purposes.
Ravi’s remarks come after India’s successful rollout of 20% ethanol blending (E20) in petrol. He credited the distillery sector for supporting this initiative and pointed to a recent government decision mandating E20 petrol with a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95 from April 1, 2026. Higher-octane E20 fuel is expected to improve vehicle performance and efficiency, addressing earlier concerns about lower-octane blends.
In addition, he urged the industry to accelerate production of isobutanol for blending with diesel and to develop technology for converting ethanol into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Highlighting the broader impact, Ravi said ethanol-based cooking could be a cleaner alternative to LPG, especially in rural and semi-urban areas. Expanding ethanol use beyond transport fuel would not only diversify demand but also strengthen India’s energy security, reduce imports, cut emissions, and support farmers.
He concluded by calling for close collaboration between oil companies and distillers to turn ethanol-based cooking into a practical and scalable solution in India.
