Covid-19 and winter push cooking gas consumption above petrol in India

While LPG use rose as more people cooked at home due to tighter coronavirus restrictions, India's full-year consumption of fuel never fully recovered

A fuel primarily used for cooking has surpassed fuel as India’s second most popular oil product following a boost from a government buying program, cold weather and stay-at-home orders due to Covid-19.

Consumption in 2020 of liquefied petroleum gas -- which is also used for heating -- was higher than motor fuel for the first time ever over a calendar year, data from the government showed. Demand got an additional boost later in the year following a six-month extension of a government program providing free LPG cylinders to lower-income people and an early start to winter.

While LPG use rose as more