The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) has issued an advisory to restaurants urging them to conserve fuel and adopt alternative cooking methods amid disruptions in the commercial Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply chain.

The advisory comes after several eateries in Mumbai were forced to temporarily suspend operations due to shortages of commercial LPG cylinders.

According to the industry body, ongoing geopolitical developments have disrupted LPG supplies, raising concerns that restaurants may face significant operational challenges if the situation persists.

Advisory Suggests Fuel-Saving Measures

In the advisory circulated among its members, the NRAI recommended several measures to help restaurants manage fuel consumption and continue operations.

Restaurants have been advised to:

• Rationalise menus and temporarily prioritise dishes requiringless gas and shorter cooking cycles.

• Adoptbatch cookinginstead of repeated small cooking cycles.

• Uselids and pressure cooking techniquesto reduce cooking time.

• Pre-soak grains and legumesbefore cooking to minimise gas usage.

• Switch off burners when not in use.

• Use burners that match the size of cooking utensils to avoid flame wastage.

These steps, according to the association, can significantly reduce LPG consumption in commercial kitchens.

Shift Towards Electric Alternatives

The advisory also encouraged restaurants to explore temporary alternatives to LPG.

These include the use ofinduction cooktops, electric griddles, convection ovens, rice cookers and steamers. Even a partial shift to electric appliances can help reduce dependence on LPG and maintain kitchen operations during supply disruptions.

Restaurants Already Affected

The supply crisis has already impacted several eateries.

In the Byculla area of Mumbai, New Sunrise Restaurant was forced to temporarily shut down operations after its last LPG cylinder ran out.

Restaurant owner Imran Kadiwala said attempts to arrange another cylinder from suppliers and other businesses were unsuccessful, leaving him with no option but to close the eatery for the time being.

Industry representatives warn that if LPG supply disruptions continue, more restaurants may face similar operational challenges in the coming days.