Scaling up ethanol as a cooking fuel alternative to liquefied petroleum gas will require government policy assistance, according to Praj Industries Founder Chairman Pramod Chaudhari. Supply uncertainties linked to the Iran conflict raise concerns about India's fuel imports."This is a well-known phenomena when cooking with ethanol. Nothing extraordinary is necessary," Chaudhari told NDTV Profit in a televised interview.

India relies on imports to cover a substantial portion of its LPG consumption, and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed the government to prioritize residential supplies. The scenario has refocused attention on ethanol and other alternative cooking fuels, particularly as commercial users face limits.Ethanol stoves are currently in use worldwide and require just minor changes to existing infrastructure, but adoption in India has been slow due to a lack of persistent demand and legislative support.
Policy Gap
Chaudhari stated that previous attempts to scale ethanol cooking failed owing to inconsistent demand.Unless there is a maintained demand, the corporations... did not sustain the entire thing because there was no consistent necessity," he stated. He stated that improved stove technologies are available and widely used. "Those stoves are now getting improved... they're using it regularly in Africa and so many other countries," he told me.

Energy Security
He emphasized that the demand for ethanol should not be limited by short-term price fluctuations.This is not a transient phase," Chaudhari added, noting that ethanol has a smaller carbon footprint and contributes to energy security. "Imported fuel is quite affordable... unless the crisis happens, nobody gives attention," he commented.
Biofuel Pipeline
According to Chaudhari, various biofuel pathways are ready but require policy decisions. These include increased ethanol blending in petrol, diesel mixing, sustainable aviation fuel, and compressed biogas.We are waiting for the government to go for a slightly greater percentage," he stated. He stated that demand for ethanol projects is increasing. "There's a tremendous amount of appeal... for new requirements and increasing the capacity."