Hotels and eateries in Belagavi are facing a severe shortage of LPG, forcing many businesses to switch to biomass-based cooking solutions as global supply disruptions continue to affect fuel availability, Asianetnews reported.
The crisis, linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, has disrupted supply chains and reduced the availability of commercial LPG cylinders in the city. Local hotels, canteens and restaurants, which require around 1,600 cylinders daily, are currently receiving only about 600, creating a major gap and impacting operations.
As a result, several establishments have been forced to shut temporarily, while others are struggling to keep their kitchens running. The situation has hit revenues across the hospitality sector.
To cope with the shortage, many hotel owners are turning to biomass stoves. The number of establishments using this alternative has risen sharply from around 30 earlier to over 180 in recent weeks.
These stoves, developed through a collaboration between The Energy and Resources Institute and Indian Institute of Science, use fuels such as agricultural waste, coconut shells and firewood. They are considered more efficient than traditional wood stoves and significantly cheaper compared to LPG.
Local entrepreneur Sameer Surendra Kanabargi has been manufacturing and supplying these stoves through his firm Phoenix Product for over two decades. Demand for the stoves has surged sharply in recent days, surpassing levels seen over the past several years.
Apart from hotels, small and medium industries are also showing interest in biomass gasifiers, a technology already in use in several industrial units across the country.
Industry representatives say biomass stoves offer multiple uses, including cooking, steam generation and water heating, making them an efficient alternative during the fuel shortage.
Ajay Pai said many businesses have adopted biomass stoves due to the LPG shortage, helping them continue operations despite the ongoing crisis.
