With LPG cylinder supplies running low due to the crisis in West Asia, many caterers in the State are turning to rocket stoves as an alternative cooking method. As demand rises, some suppliers have stopped accepting fresh orders as they struggle to keep up, while others, including restaurant owners, have begun making their own stoves to manage the crisis.
Rocket stoves are high in demand as they require less firewood compared to regular wood stoves and other alternative cooking systems. “I have placed an order for two rocket stoves. With the crisis deepening, stove is the only alternative,” said Mohammed Razi P.Z., owner of a restaurant at Vennala in the city. Mohammed Sharooq, the all-India distributor of a Chennai-based stove manufacturing company, said he had stopped taking calls amid rising demand. “Every day, we get over 1,000 calls. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept any new orders as we want to fulfil existing ones,” he said.
In the past four days, the company has received more than 2,000 orders, including 450 from Kerala. The price of the stoves varies by company and model. At the firm, commercial models are priced between ₹17,500 and ₹3.5 lakh, while domestic units range from ₹8,000 to ₹17,500.
With most companies freezing orders due to their inability to manufacture and deliver in time, some restaurateurs have begun making their own rocket stoves.
“When we went to place an order, we were told there was a waiting period of over 40 days. So we made three such stoves and are using them,” said Benny Nanatt, owner of an eatery in Palarivattom.
Aiju Thomas, managing partner of a firm in Piravom that manufactures the stoves, said their orders have increased. “If we earlier sold about 40 stoves a month, it is now 40 a day. Hoteliers have been buying more stoves since the crisis began,” Mr. Thomas said.
The firm offers two variants priced at around ₹9,500 (extra-large) and ₹5,200 (large) and has not run out of stock yet.
Published – March 19, 2026 01:14 am IST
