Nepal's Cooking Gas Shortage Persists Despite Resumption of Full Cylinder Distribution

Consumers in Nepal are struggling to obtain cooking gas cylinders despite claims of adequate supply from the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) and the LPG industry. The NOC resumed the distribution of full 14.2 kg cylinders on July 15, but consumers are facing a shortage.

According to Chandrakala Paudel, a homemaker from Imadol, she has been unable to get a cooking gas cylinder for weeks and is relying on a half-filled 7.1 kg cylinder that is about to run out. Pradeep Mahara, a bachelor's student from Kirtipur, spent an entire day searching for a cylinder before eventually buying one at the official price.

Manoj Kumar Thakur, deputy director of the NOC, said that retailers may be hoarding full cylinders while selling the remaining stock of half-filled cylinders. He claimed that there is no problem on the supply side and that the corporation received 44,544 tonnes of LPG from mid-June to mid-July.

The LPG industry association, however, predicts that it may take longer for supplies to normalise after shifting from 7.1 kg to 14.2 kg cylinders. Diwan Bahadur Chand, president of the Nepal LP Gas Industry Association, said that the impact of distributing half-filled cylinders for four months will continue to affect supplies.

Consumer rights activists allege that dealers are creating an artificial shortage to exploit consumers. Bishnu Prasad Timilsina, general secretary of the Forum for Protection of Consumer Rights-Nepal, said that ensuring an uninterrupted supply of essential goods is the government's responsibility.