Cooking with an Affordable, Alternative Fuel Source

Introducing Gaz Lite in the Philippines

Pascal Resources Energy, Inc. (PREI) launched Gaz Lite, a refillable aluminium LPG canister product, as an affordable alternative to existing LPG tanks and other fuel options. A starter kit consisted of two fuel canisters, a stove, and a stove case. The company assumed that Filipinos would find this product more affordable and less cumbersome than wood, charcoal, and butane.

Understanding Fuel Choices 

Curiosity helped PREI learn more about how people make decisions around fuel purchases, how they perceive their experience of using Gaz Lite, and what would encourage them to choose or discontinue its use. The study focused on Talim Island in Binangonan, Rizal, a community with limited access to LPG products. A rapid ethnographic approach was used, including interviews and observations.

Key Findings on Fuel Usage

LPG products were used not just for cooking at home, but also by fishermen at sea. Income influenced the selection and use of household fuel, with households switching between options based on their financial situation. Different fuels were used for different meals, with wood and charcoal used for boiling and large servings of food. Gaz Lite and butane canisters were used for frying and as a reliable emergency fuel. The purchase of LPG canisters was seen as a sign of better status in life. Users wanted the brand to highlight the ease of use and safety of Gaz Lite.