Government seeks to increase stove production and allow imports –

NEW DELHI: The government is increasing the supply of induction cooktops and stoves, while pushing companies and institutional kitchens to move to electricity-based cooking to reduce pressure on gas.To meet the immediate requirement of cookstoves, demand for which has increased following concerns over LPG, imports are being mobilized, while domestic production seeks to accelerate in the coming weeks.Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, DPIIT Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Energy Secretary Pankaj Agarwal and DGFT Lav Agarwal discussed the issue on Saturday, which was followed by discussions with industry representatives.

In the coming days, the government is expected to relax some rules, such as postponing the implementation of the quality control order on consumer electronic devices for six months, to create domestic production capacity.Induction stoves contain about 60% imported components, including PCBs and micro-crystalline glass, while the vessels used for cooking need a layer of paint which are also imported in large quantities. Industry executives have sought concessions, including a reduction in import duties on some inputs as well as a cut in the goods and services tax.

The initial rush for cylinders sent consumers flocking to stores and e-commerce sites, leading to stock-outs on many online platforms.Industry sources said they have placed orders for the stoves, which are expected to arrive within the next few weeks, including through air freight. The government wants to ensure adequate availability and reasonable price of induction stoves, a senior government official said.Separately, the government is also pushing factories, canteens and restaurants with large kitchens to switch from LPG or piped gas to electric cooking.

Industry estimates suggest that converting an industrial kitchen from LPG to induction could cost around Rs 15 lakh, compared to annual LPG costs of around Rs 50 lakh. This can result in an annual saving of Rs 35 lakh, and a total payback period of about three years, as the cost of setting up electric kitchens is about three times more.Already, as TOI reported in its Chennai edition, companies like engineering firm Danfoss India, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles and auto components manufacturer ZF have moved into electric cooking. In an exchange filing, Jubilant Foodworks, which has franchise arrangements with several players, including Domino’s Pizza, said it is working on alternative energy sources such as electricity and piped natural gas to sustain its LPG.

Many companies that make induction cooktops saw prices rise when demand initially rose, but most have seen value erode since the start of the war in Iran.