PILIBHIT: The All India Distillers’ Association (AIDA) has proposed ethanol-based domestic energy pathways as an alternative to LPG, citing concerns over import dependence amid geopolitical disruptions in the Gulf.
AIDA president Vijendra Singh has written to the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas, urging it to initiate strategies to promote ethanol for household energy use.
The proposal aims to strengthen energy resilience and reduce reliance on imported fuel during periods of global instability. In a letter to petroleum secretary Neeraj Mittal, Singh said the domestic distilling industry has an annual production capacity of 2,000 crore litres of ethanol, which can be scaled up to 2,400 crore litres by 2026-27.
According to AIDA, this capacity can ensure a stable supply for alternative domestic use and act as a buffer against global supply disruptions.
Singh said, “Erratic LPG supplies have led to prioritisation of household consumption, while commercial users continue to face constraints. Dependence on a single imported clean cooking fuel highlights the need to diversify the energy mix.”
He added that ethanol-based cooking solutions could reduce import dependence and enable cleaner combustion with lower particulate emissions, helping curb indoor air pollution.
Singh said hydrous ethanol would avoid dehydration costs, making it potentially more economical than commercial LPG, while decentralised production could support regional energy systems.
He added that such solutions would be suitable for households and small commercial use, and could also benefit farmers by increasing demand for feedstocks such as rice, maize and sugarcane.
“While ethanol has a lower calorific value than LPG, advancements in stove design, optimised burners and efficient fuel delivery systems can bridge the gap for practical use,” he said.
He urged the ministry to develop a policy and regulatory framework for phased adoption of ethanol as a cooking fuel, along with safety, quality and performance standards for ethanol cookstoves.
Get real-time updates and result insights on
AP Inter 1st, 2nd Year Result 2026 and
CBSE 2026 Results.
Keshav Agarwal has been with The Times of India since June 1, 201...
Read MoreKeshav Agarwal has been with The Times of India since June 1, 2014, currently posted in Pilibhit. He specializes in reporting on forest and wildlife, environment, water resources, agriculture, and the sugar and ethanol industries. He also covers a broad range of other topics, including health and medicine, education, development, and crime.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment