High Cost Of Cooking Gas – The Alternatives
With the continued upsurge in the prices of commodities, foodstuff and other essential household needs in Nigeria and no end in sight to the situation, Nigerians particularly low incime earners have started adjusting to the economic situation of the country.
One of such is the rise in the cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas which is considered a basic neccesity in average homes. The cost of cooking gas has become unbearable for Nigerians who are already paying higher bills for other commodities.
Osun Defender’s findings revealed that Cooking gas now costs more and the reason for this is not far fetched due to the depreciating value of the Nigerian Naira. Currently, a kilogram of gas is being sold for N1,000 with a 12kg cylinder being filled for averagely N12,000.
Since the situation has remained unabated and Nigerians need to survive, Nigerian households are exploring other alternatives to cooking gas as they need to flow with the situation of the economy.
Below are some alternatives to cooking gas;
Charcoal
The rise in cooking gas prices is pushing people back to using charcoal as a source of fuel. While charcoal is among the dirty fuels, it is a cheaper option for households that cannot afford to buy gas. There are however modern charcoal stoves that are now efficient, which use less fuel and emit less smoke. They are also called local gas as they do not blacken the back of cooking pots.
Firewood
Although, many Nigerians homes have phased out the use of firewood as fuel for cooking. But the rising prices of cooking gas and kerosene has drived people back to it regardless of the harmful effects such as continued inhaling of smoke while indoors. Firewood still remains a prevalent method of cooking in many rural homes, especially when cooking foods that take longer to cook like maize and beans. Firewood are also used during parties, festivities and occasions where there are many dishes to cook.
Briquettes
Compared to firewood or charcoal, biomass briquettes are a cleaner alternative source of energy. Briquettes are made from charcoal dust, sawdust, and other wood remnants and agricultural by-products that are compressed into a solid unit, which is then used like charcoal or firewood.They are more sustainable and energy efficient and alleviate all the challenges that come with charcoal and firewood like deforestation and land degradation.
Biogas
Biogas is produced by processing several types of organic waste such as food or animal waste which is broken down by micro-organisms in the absence of oxygen. The fuel made from biogas is environmentally friendly. Biogas is affordable since the raw materials used are readily available and cost less. It is however used by very few people in the country. Biogas cookers, depending on the brand and whether it is a two or one burner vary in prices. Biogas digester systems are usually installed for households, hotels, schools and other institutions and the cost varies depending on the size which makes different volumes of gas per month.
Bioethanol fuel
Bioethanol is produced by the sugar fermentation process from plants such as rice straws, corn, sugarcane, wheat and other agricultural feedstocks. The sugar from these crops is used to produce ethanol which can be used as fuel.
Nigerians who spoke to Osun Defender however called on the federal government to work assiduously to bring down the cost of cooking gas, as it is one of the easiest and less stressful sources of cooking.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
