Morbi Ceramic Industry Turns to Propane Amid Rising Energy Costs

The ceramic industry in Morbi is facing pressure from rising energy costs after Gujarat Gas raised prices for industrial customers by Rs 2.65 per standard cubic meter to Rs 46.05.

This price hike has made piped natural gas less competitive for ceramic units, forcing manufacturers to look for cheaper fuel options to protect their already-thin margins.

Propane has emerged as an alternative because of its relatively better cost economics, with a large part of Morbi's ceramic industry having shifted towards propane during the gas supply disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict earlier this year.