Electric stoves are becoming an alternative to 'gas stoves'

Kathmandu: Statistics show that people are starting to use electricity as an alternative to energy gas for home use. Along with a regular power supply, electric stoves (induction and infrared) is being developed as an alternative energy source for cooking.

As the use of electric stoves as alternative energy has increased, its import has started from thousands to millions. This has affected the sale of gas.

The customs department has stated that the import of cooking gas has contracted. In the first eight months of the current fiscal year alone, the import of cooking gas from India has declined by nearly 2.5 million kg, while the import of electric stoves has increased by 469 times.

While 256 units of electric stoves worth Rs. 69.52 million were imported in the first eight months of the Fiscal Year 2076/77, the import result of these stoves has reached 120,268 units in the current fiscal year. The import amount is more than Rs. 194.61 million.

Increasing import of electric stoves

In the fiscal year 2073/74, Nepal imported 2,774 units of electric stoves worth Rs. 96.7 million. Imports of induction and infrared stoves, which were very low in the previous years, have been increasing for more than a year now, according to the customs department.

In the first eight months of the current fiscal year alone, the import of cooking gas from India has declined by nearly 2.5 million kg, while the import of electric stoves has increased by 469 times.

Imports of electric stoves have almost doubled in FY 2074/75 as compared to FY 2073/74. According to the statistics, 5,595 units of electric stoves worth Rs. 147.88 million were imported in the fiscal year.

Imports of electric stoves, which declined in FY 2075/76, have increased significantly in FY 2076/77. In the fiscal year 2075/76, 597 such stoves were imported. Last year, 10,435 such stoves worth Rs. 24.898 million were imported to Nepal. Compared to the current fiscal year, only 256 units have been installed in the current fiscal year, which is 469 times more. As of February this year, 120,268 electric stoves have already entered Nepal.

One cylinder of gas lasted for 6 months!

According to Sai Baba and Shri Ram Gas retailers in Sanobhyang, Kathmandu, customers who consume one cylinder of gas in two months even after saving a lot, now come for a new cylinder in six months.

There is no big impact but he has the experience that the consumers of gas are gradually shifting to electric stoves. "When I asked the customers I liked and knew why there was no gas, they said, 'We have bought induction, electricity is coming,'" she said.

Shivlal Adhikari, manager of Gorkhakali Gas Store at Nursery Chowk in Vanasthali, Kathmandu, who has been retailing cooking gas for several years, admits that the induction has affected the gas.

"Not in large quantities, but using induction in every household has reduced the sale of gas," he said. The number of customers ordering gas by tipping has now decreased due to induction, 'the official told online news.

The Nepal LP Gas Industry Association has stated that the impact of electric stoves in urban areas has partially affected the sale of gas. Gokul Bhandari, president of the association, said that the use of electric stoves has increased in part due to problems seen in the distribution of gas at different times. One lakh cylinders of gas are consumed daily across the country and the use of gas in the city has shrunk. However, the use and consumption of gas spread in rural areas have not affected the import, said Bhandari.

Shortage of electric stove

The state-owned food management and the trading company sold electric stoves twice last year and this year. Sharmila Subedi, information officer of the company, said that consumers have been reluctant to buy electric stoves both times.

"We first sold the induction of Chinese Infrared and later Baltra, both of which were very popular with consumers," said Subedi, an information officer.

The company has traded 7,427 units of electric stoves twice and is preparing for further sales.

According to Gokul Bhandari, president of the association, the use of electric stoves has increased due to the problems seen in the distribution of gas at different times.

Which is cheaper in gas and electric stoves?

The Center for Energy Studies at the Institute of Engineering Studies, Pulchowk, conducted a study on the cost of cooking with LP gas, electric stoves, and kerosene. According to the study, which was the first to claim the prize of cooking energy in Nepal, cooking using electric energy was found to be 60 percent cheaper than gas.

According to the research of the study center, the electric cooking utensils of the customer's choice include clay heaters, pressure cookers of any brand or company, and any type of electric hot plate. However, if consumers use electric induction cookers instead of these materials, the benefits will be even greater.

Gas imports began to decline

Along with the increase in imports of electric stoves, the import of cooking gas from India has also started declining. In the fiscal year 2075/76, 42.88 million 40 thousand 157 kg of gas worth Rs. 35.54 billion 84.66 million was imported.

In 2076/77, 406,18,299 kg of gas worth Rs. 27.94 billion has been imported. In the first eight months of 2077/78, only 311,018,967 kg of gas worth Rs. 21.51 billion has been imported. Which is more than 2.5 million kg less than the same period of the previous fiscal year.