Geopolitical Tensions Offer Opportunity to Shift from LPG to Electric Stoves

With the end of load-shedding in Nepal, the use of electric stoves has been on the rise. However, according to the 2021 census, only 0.5 percent of the country's total population uses electricity for cooking.

Amidst signs of potential cooking gas shortages due to the US-Iran conflict, stakeholders suggest that Nepal should further increase the use of electric stoves to mitigate the risk of fuel scarcity.

"Due to our heavy reliance on LPG for cooking, any supply disruption could directly impact the public," said Ram Prasad Dhital, Chairman of the Electricity Regulatory Commission. "While this is a challenge, it can be turned into an opportunity to boost the use of electric stoves in the country."

Dhital believes that since Nepal generates more clean energy than it demands, particularly during the rainy season, utilizing this surplus for cooking purposes could significantly enhance the nation's energy security.

Census data indicates that Nepali kitchens remain heavily dependent on traditional fuels. Nationwide, 51 percent of families still use firewood, while 44.3 percent use LPG. Furthermore, 2.9 percent of the population uses dung cakes, and 1.2 percent relies on biogas, kerosene, or other fuels.

Conflict in the Gulf region not only disrupts oil and gas supplies but also drives up prices. Qatar Energy, the world's largest gas producer, reportedly halted (Liquefied Natural Gas) LNG production after an Iranian attack damaged a gas plant in Ras Laffan Industrial City. Saudi Arabia also temporarily closed its Ras Tanura oil production center. These events have increased gas and oil prices on the international market.

On Monday, gas prices in Europe surged by 45 percent, according to international media. Nepal imports its gas from India. Therefore, stakeholders argue that given the potential for both supply disruptions and price hikes for oil and gas, it is necessary to use Nepal's own electricity for cooking which is comparatively cheaper.

Electricity is Half the Cost of Gas

According to a World Bank study, a typical Nepali family of 4-5 members fully using an electric stove (induction or electric pressure cooker) consumes an average of 50 to 70 units of electricity per month. At current tariff rates, this costs approximately NPR 500 to 700.

This is nearly half the cost of using LPG. Consumers could save between 40 to 50 percent by using electricity for the equivalent energy obtained from one gas cylinder.

The government has made some policy efforts to increase electricity consumption. In 2019, under then-Energy Minister Barsha Man Pun, a tariff discount of up to 150 units was announced for customers using induction stoves. Similarly, the budget for the fiscal year 2021/22 reduced the customs duty on induction stoves from 5 percent to 1 percent.

What Needs to Be Done to Increase Electric Stove Usage?

According to Chairman Dhital, to promote electric cooking, most households need to upgrade their current 5-ampere meters to 15 or 30-ampere meters.

"The service wires from distribution poles to homes, internal household wiring, and the capacity of local transformers also need to be upgraded," he stated.

He added that tariff policies also require revision to encourage electric cooking. Dhital suggested that offering concessional rates during peak evening hours through Time-of-Day meters, or setting special discount rates for induction users, could attract consumers away from gas. "This would help reduce demand for imported fuels in the long term, save foreign currency, and advance the country towards energy self-sufficiency," he said.

Dhital clarified that increasing production alone is insufficient; infrastructure strengthening is needed across all three levels: generation, transmission, and distribution. According to him, every crisis brings opportunities along with challenges, and the current geopolitical tension could serve as an opportunity for Nepal to expand domestic electricity use by replacing imported gas.

Experts warn that if all Nepalis were to use induction stoves simultaneously (especially during morning and peak evening hours), the current transformers and old wiring would be unable to handle the load.

Energy expert Sher Singh Bhat stated that while electricity generation isn't an immediate major problem in Nepal, the main challenge lies in the distribution system. Distribution transformers (ranging from 100 to 200 kVA) installed in most neighborhoods and settlements are currently operating at 60 to 80 percent load.

He noted that if all households began cooking simultaneously during morning and evening using induction or other electric appliances, there is a high risk of transformers becoming overloaded. Similarly, the 400-volt low-voltage lines are also incapable of handling this additional load, as these structures were not originally built with the assumption that everyone would use electric stoves.

According to the Nepal Electricity Authority's annual report for 2024/25, while significant investment is being made in strengthening the distribution system, the dream of 'electric kitchens' appears difficult to achieve without improvements in household internal wiring and transformer upgrades.