LPG Access Grows, But Rural India Still Relies on Firewood
What Happened
A study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) found that while 73% of rural households used LPG in the past 90 days, only 23% rely on it exclusively. About half of rural households still use firewood as their primary cooking fuel, and only 47% of LPG users receive doorstep cylinder delivery, highlighting affordability and supply challenges.
Key Takeaways
The study suggests that expanding LPG connections alone is not enough. High refill costs and weak last-mile delivery remain major barriers. CEEW found that at least 80% of surveyed households would switch to exclusive LPG use if a cylinder refill cost ₹400, compared with the current subsidised PMUY price of about ₹642.