Cooking gas crisis deepens in Kathmandu valley

Cooking gas supply crisis has deepened in the Kathmandu valley as the LPG refilling companies have stopped importing cooking gas. Local distributors and dealers have threatened to halt the sale of cooking gas if the supply crisis is not resolved.

LPG Distributors’ Association, Nepal (LPGDAN) and Nepal LPG Dealers’ Association (NLPGDA) Thursday have submitted a joint memorandum to Nepal Oil Corporation asking it to ensure smooth supply of the cooking gas within three days. The distributors and dealers have also announced a three-day protest programme beginning from Friday.

According to their protest programme, they would gherao and padlock the office of Nepal LPG Industry Association (NLPGIA) on the first day. They plan to gherao NOC office on Sunday. If the problem prolongs and crisis deepens further, the distributors and dealers would organise a rally with empty cylinders and padlock the NOC head office on Monday.

They stated that apart from consumers, the LPG shortage has also hit dealers and distributors due to a tussle between the state-run sole petroleum supplier — NOC — and the refilling companies. LPGDAN and NLPGDA said they had already notified the concerned government bodies and other stakeholders about the worsening supply situation.

The LPG supply crisis in the Kathmandu valley worsened after the refilling companies went on strike on Sunday, saying they would not import the LPG until the NOC raised the import quota from the current 7,523 metric tonnes a month to a minimum of 9,000 metric tonnes.