Govt plans push for electric stoves to reduce LPG dependence

Demand for electric cookstoves shot up after the war began as consumers rushed to compensate for a shortage in LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinders. On 12 March, an Amazon India spokesperson told Mint that sales of induction cooktops increased 30X in just two days.Prices of these cooktops, too, have risen, though not abnormally.

Basic models priced at around ₹1,800 saw an increase of about ₹100, while higher-end models witnessed steeper hikes, according to e-commerce data.As demand rises, procurement of cooktops by EESL under the scheme is also being scaled up.The second person said that a tender for 100,000 cookstoves has closed recently. “Two more tenders are scheduled for a total of 5 lakh (500,000) units,” this person said.

“Given the growing interest, tenders may become more frequent and with more units on offer.”The NECP was launched with a target of deploying 2 million cookstoves. “By FY27, it was initially targeted that 10 lakh (1 million) induction-based cookstoves would be deployed,” the second person said, adding that the target was later cut to 500,000 units due to weak demand.“But now, given the rejuvenation of demand, the phase-wise target may have to be revised,” the second person added.In response to an e-mail query, EESL’s spokesperson said that the agency had an order book for 69,872 units as of 25 March, of which 16,526 units were successfully deployed, while the rest are under deployment.“The tender of 2 lakh (200,000 units) in phase one is under process,” the spokesperson said.

“Regarding subsidies, at present there is no such agreement with any financial institutions. EESL has been working with OEMs and the ministry (of power) to address the problems/ issues of industry.”A spokesperson for the