Pune, May 18 -- Every day, millions of Indian households rely on LPG cylinders for cooking. But behind this daily necessity lies a heavy dependence on fuel imports. Now, scientists at a Pune laboratory are working on a homegrown alternative that could reshape India's energy future -- DME, or Dimethyl Ether.

Developed at the CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, the clean fuel is being positioned as a promising substitute for LPG. Researchers say the biggest advantage is that DME can be produced domestically using resources like coal, biomass, and methanol, reducing India's dependence on imported fuel.

"This is not just another laboratory experiment. It is part of India's next-generation deep-tech innovation," scientists associated with the...