Madurai and other parts of Tamil Nadu are seeing disruptions in hotel operations due to a shortage in commercial LPG cylinder supply. To keep kitchens running, establishments ranging from small hotels to star-category properties are moving back to wood-fired stoves.
The supply stress is linked to wider disruption in petroleum product distribution amid ongoing conflict conditions in West Asia involving the US and the Israel-Iran situation, according to the report. Alongside a rise in domestic cylinder prices, major cities have also reported scarcity of commercial cylinders.
As cylinder availability drops, many hotels say they are unable to cook at normal scale, affecting business. Oil companies have advised users to explore alternative arrangements to meet fuel needs, prompting the shift to firewood-based cooking.
Hotels are making changes inside kitchens to accommodate wood stoves and are placing advance orders with firewood sellers to avoid shortages. Traders warn that a sudden surge in orders could push up prices.
Manoharan, a firewood seller, said firewood is usually supplied mainly for weddings and other special events, with limited routine demand otherwise. He said a tonne currently sells for up to Rs 10,000, and meeting sudden orders involves additional costs—such as cutting, drying and labour—of up to Rs 5,000, which could lead to higher prices.
