Willingness to use liquified petroleum gas as the main fuel in selected talukas of Goa
No Thumbnail Available
Files
Date
2026
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Artha Vijnana
Abstract
The over-dependence on firewood by rural households is a major deterrent to the adoption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Although LPG as a clean cooking fuel is widely acknowledged in the energy-transition literature, only a few studies have acknowledged the impacts of LPG on the rural household fuel choice decision. This study attempted to determine the factors influencing rural households’ willingness to use LPG as the main fuel and its relationship with LPG usage in the selected talukas of Goa. The analysis revealed that LPG was primarily used for cooking meals, preparing tea, and making quick snacks. Firewood was the most preferred fuel choice for heating water for bathing and continues to dominate the cooking-fuel landscape in rural areas. A major concern for not using LPG was its high refilling cost, while the main drivers of LPG usage were ease of refilling, convenience of cooking, and low risks. Based on the findings, the study suggests immediate measures such as relaunching the LPG subsidy scheme that was stopped in May 2020, universal coverage of the subsidy scheme irrespective of caste and income criteria, greater awareness on the efficient use of LPG stoves, expanding LPG distribution networks in rural areas, and imposing restrictions on firewood collection, including a ban on the collection of dead and fallen branches from the trees, all of which would help increase the proportion of the rural population dependent on LPG. Households would be willing to switch over to LPG completely if the issue of affordability is addressed by the government. Additionally, education and awareness campaigns on the health risks associated with firewood cooking, particularly indoor air pollution, should be encouraged, especially in rural areas.