Why Rocket Stoves Are Ideal During LPG Shortage

In February 2026, several districts across Tamil Nadu experienced a 4-day LPG cylinder delivery delay. Hotels closed their kitchens. Households scrambled to borrow cylinders from neighbours. Catering businesses cancelled orders. One disruption in supply and the entire cooking infrastructure comes to a halt.

This is not a rare event. LPG shortages, whether from supply disruptions, price hikes, or distribution delays, have become a recurring reality across India. And every time it happens, the same question comes up: what is the alternative?

The LPG Dependency Problem

Most Indian kitchens, both domestic and commercial, are built entirely around LPG. When gas supply is disrupted, there is no backup. Hotels lose revenue, households struggle to cook basic meals, and caterers lose clients.

The problem is not just supply disruption. LPG prices have risen significantly over the past few years. A commercial cylinder that cost Rs 1,200 five years ago now costs over Rs 1,800. For a hotel using 5 to 8 cylinders per month, that is a substantial and growing expense.

Why Rocket Stoves Are the Practical Answer

A rocket stove does not depend on any supply chain except locally available firewood. Here is why it works as an LPG alternative:

• Zero gas dependency: No cylinders, no pipeline, no delivery schedule. Firewood is available at any local timber dealer, and many areas have natural wood sources.
• Comparable heat output: An SGE Fabs 15 kg rocket stove delivers heat that matches a commercial gas burner. We have tested it side by side. Water boiling times are nearly identical.
• Immediate availability: Unlike setting up a gas connection, a rocket stove works the moment you get it. No installation, no piping, no regulator. Place it, light it, cook.
• Lower running cost: Even when LPG is available, firewood costs significantly less. Hotels that switch to rocket stoves typically save Rs 5,000 to Rs 12,000 per month on fuel.

How Our Customers Use Them

After the February shortage, our phone did not stop ringing for two weeks. Hotel owners who had never considered firewood cooking were suddenly interested. Here is what we saw:

Emergency backup users

Some customers bought a rocket stove purely as a backup. It sits in the kitchen unused until the LPG delivery is late. Then it comes out, they load firewood, and the kitchen keeps running. No panic, no lost business.

Hybrid kitchen users

Most of our hotel customers use rocket stoves for 60 to 80 percent of their cooking (rice, sambar, curries, boiling) and keep LPG only for quick frying and tava work. This dramatically reduces LPG consumption and provides natural insurance against shortages.

Full switchover users

A few customers have eliminated LPG entirely. A catering business in Erode runs 100 percent on SGE rocket stoves. A small hotel in Karur has not bought a gas cylinder in 8 months. These are extreme cases, but they prove it is possible.

Cost Comparison: LPG vs Rocket Stove

• Commercial LPG cylinder: Rs 1,800 (cooks approximately 30 to 40 meals of large batch cooking)
• Equivalent firewood for rocket stove: Rs 400 to Rs 600 (same output)
• Monthly savings for a small hotel: Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000
• Monthly savings for a large hotel: Rs 8,000 to Rs 15,000

Be Prepared Before the Next Shortage

The next LPG disruption is not a question of if but when. Having a rocket stove in your kitchen means you are never caught off guard. At Rs 6,500 for the 15 kg model and Rs 2,750 for the 5 kg model, it is an inexpensive insurance policy that also saves you money every single day you use it.