New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has unveiled an indigenous ethanol-based cooking stove technology that he said can produce cooking flames at a lower cost than commercial LPG cylinders, while also announcing a Rs 40-crore initiative to promote scientific temperament among young Indians.

Speaking at an event in Nagpur, Gadkari said the new technology uses a blend of ethanol and water to generate flames suitable for cooking purposes.

“By mixing 7 per cent ethanol in water, stove-like flames are generated, and it is cheaper than cooking gas. It is indigenous to our country,” the minister said.

The announcement aligns with Gadkari’s long-standing advocacy for ethanol as a sustainable and cost-effective substitute for fossil fuels.

Over the years, he has consistently promoted the use of ethanol across multiple sectors, including transportation and energy, arguing that it can help reduce India’s dependence on imported crude oil while supporting domestic agriculture and clean energy goals.

India currently imports nearly 87 per cent of its crude oil requirements, making energy security a key policy priority.

The government has aggressively expanded ethanol blending in petrol, with blending levels rising from 1.53 per cent in 2014 to 20 per cent in 2025.

Gadkari has been among the strongest proponents of the ethanol-blending programme, describing it as an environmentally friendly and economically beneficial solution for the country.

The proposed ethanol-water stove technology extends this vision to the domestic cooking sector, where millions of households continue to rely on LPG cylinders.

If successfully scaled and commercialised, the innovation could provide a cheaper, locally developed alternative to conventional cooking gas while further strengthening India’s clean-energy ecosystem.

Alongside the energy initiative, Gadkari announced a Rs 40-crore project aimed at nurturing scientific curiosity and innovation among children and young people.

“As technology is evolving, we are also working on a project worth Rs 40 crore to ignite the love for science in the youth and children,” he said.

–IANS

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