Pune Scientists Develop Waste-Based Gas That Could Replace LPG at National Chemical Laboratory
Pune, 14 March 2026: Scientists at the CSIR–National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) in Pune have developed an alternative fuel gas for household cooking that could partially replace Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
The gas, called Dimethyl Ether (DME), is produced from biodegradable waste and is being presented as an environmentally friendly and indigenous energy solution.
NCL Director Ashish Lele announced the development during a press conference on Friday. The project was led by chief researcher Dr. T. Raja and developed with industrial partners including Texol Engineering and Artium Innovation.
Researchers have already begun pilot-scale production of the gas at a facility in Pirangut, where around 250 kilograms of DME is currently produced per day.
According to scientists involved in the project, the gas is generated using a process that converts methanol into DME with the help of a specially developed indigenous catalyst.
The fuel can be produced using a range of biodegradable materials such as wet kitchen waste, decomposable dry waste, sugarcane residue and bamboo, making it a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
Scientists say tests have confirmed that the gas has adequate heating capacity and meets safety standards required for cooking fuel.
DME can be mixed with existing LPG supplies without any modification to cooking equipment. Currently, up to 8% of DME can be blended with LPG cylinders without changes, while blending levels of 8–20% are also possible. With certain modifications to stoves, scientists say the gas could even be used as a 100% replacement for LPG.
India currently imports more than 80% of its fossil fuel energy requirements. Researchers estimate that if just 8% of the country’s LPG consumption is replaced with DME, India could save approximately ₹9,500 crore in foreign exchange every year by reducing LPG imports.
"Scientists at NCL have developed an indigenous catalyst-based process to produce DME from methanol. Since the fuel can be generated from biodegradable waste such as kitchen waste, dry waste and agricultural residues, it is environmentally friendly. The gas has already passed quality and safety tests, and production of about 250 kg per day has started at Pirangut," said Ashish Lele.
Industry partners involved in the project said efforts are underway to scale up production. Plans are being prepared to establish a demonstration plant capable of producing 2.5 tonnes of DME per day within the next six to nine months, which could eventually lead to commercial plants producing 500 to 1,000 tonnes daily.
The technology could also create new employment opportunities in waste management and biofuel production, while reducing dependence on imported cooking gas.
DME is already being used as a fuel alternative in countries such as China, and Indian scientists believe the technology could be expanded across states if the pilot projects succeed.
