Nipahol, biogas seen as alternatives to LPG

The US-Israeli war on Iran has caused LPG prices to rise, which has sparked discussion about possible alternatives.

In a report by GMA Newsfeed, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) announced in 2022 that Filipino scientist Fiorello Abenes discovered that distilled nipa palm sap, or nipahol, is a good LPG alternative due to its 95% ethanol composition.

"Ethanol as cooking fuel is cleaner. We have developed a prototype that we hope we can scale up and make into a cooking stove suitable for indoor use and in commercial establishments,” he said.

Another proposed alternative is biogas, which can be sourced from biodegradable waste like livestock manure and food waste.

"Biogas is a viable cooking fuel for any household that has access to sufficient organic feedstock or that can purchase biogas from producers,” the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) said. 

Last week, the LPG Marketers Association (LPGMA) warned that LPG price for an 11-kg cylinder could reach as high as P1,500 in April due to the rising shipping costs resulting from the limited access to the Strait of Hormuz. 

In the meantime, some vendors and eateries have switched to wood, charcoal, and electric stoves.  — VBL, GMA News