India's kitchens are forced to stop cooking hot food because of a shortage of cooking gas
As a result of the Middle East conflict, cooking gas is in short supply across the country.
To make LPG (liquefied Petroleum Gas) last longer, cooks are switching to simpler meals that require less fuel.
As a result of Iran's war on terror, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively halted. This has led to an increase in energy and transportation costs. It also affects the output of oil and gas producers in the Middle East.
India, the second-largest LPG importer in the world, has ordered refiners to increase output. However, canteens and hostels say that supply is still tight, forcing them to make rapid menu changes.
The menus of factories and workers are also being reduced.
A car parts factory in Gujarat, a western state in India, has replaced fried food in their canteen with lemon water. They have also substituted hot soups for buttermilk or curd.
A hostelers' group in the state of Tamil Nadu told its members to stop baking flatbreads, making coffee, and serving tea for now.
A canteen in one association has removed some dishes that are LPG-intensive temporarily, and will return to normal menus once supplies stabilize.
Arunkumar, DT, President of the Bengaluru PG Owners Welfare Association, said that "our PGs" (paying guest houses) have about 4-5 days worth of gas left. If they cook meals that use less energy, then they might be able to prolong the life of the (gas cylinder) for two more days.
Karan Taurani is an analyst at Elara Securities. He said that a limited supply of cooking fuel may force restaurants to reduce their capacity, which could affect the orders placed on food delivery platforms.
Taurani suggested that customers may move to quick-service chains that use electric ovens and fryers.
The note read: "We're serving only rice and beans today" at a roadside eatery in New Delhi. Meanwhile, the canteen of the Delhi High Court stopped serving meals to offer only sandwiches. Aditi, Arpan, and Bhavika in New Delhi; Navneet in Bengaluru. Sethuraman NR, Mayank Bhardwaj and Alexandra Hudson edited the article.
(source: Reuters)
