Ashok Urs, 65, a former employee of India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, said he began developing the stove for use in rural households six years ago, according to the Times of India.

“In many rural areas, people still cook on open fires that consume large amounts of wood and produce a lot of smoke. I wanted to show that the same work can be done with far less fuel,” he said.

Urs said he initially wanted to reduce smoke exposure in low-income households in Karnataka State, where people relied on firewood for cooking.

Commercial kitchens in urban areas are now turning to Urs’ and other rocket stove designs to cope with the deepening fuel crisis.

But the rising demand has also overwhelmed stove manufacturers, the Hindu reported.

“Every day, we get over 1,000 calls. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept any new orders as we want to fulfil existing ones,” a distributor in Chennai City said.

As most manufacturers have stopped taking orders due to limited production capacity, some restaurant owners have begun building their own stoves to continue operating.

Rocket stoves feature an L-shaped combustion chamber lined with insulating materials such as clay, ceramic or lightweight cement that enhances airflow and creates a strong draft. Heat is directed upward to the cooking surface instead of dispersing so a small amount of fuel, such as twigs, dry leaves or coconut shells, can burn more efficiently and at higher temperatures than conventional stoves.

Urs said he has been demonstrating his stove at public events in Bengaluru to create awareness about the design. Each unit is reportedly priced at 3,000 rupees ($32).