In a bid to reduce production cost which has gone up due to the rise in gas prices, Morbi-based ceramic manufacturers have now started switching over to coal gas fired furnace from the existing gas-based furnaces.

This move by many of the industry players comes after the increase in gas prices by the natural gas provider in the region Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) last November. The price of gas to the industry which falls under the commercial segment is ruling at Rs 37.40 per standard cubic meter (SCM)