Nepal Steps up Monitoring of Cooking Gas Supply Amid Shortages

Nepal’s government has intensified inspections of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) plants and distribution depots in Kathmandu and other parts of the country amid complaints of difficulty obtaining cooking gas.

Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister Gauri Kumari Yadav inspected LPG facilities in Kathmandu on Saturday as the government sought to address consumer concerns over supply disruptions.

Yadav visited the Nepal Gas Industry in Balaju, where she was briefed on the volume of LPG being imported, bottled and distributed.

She later inspected a distribution depot located on the premises of the Nepal Oil Corporation’s office in Teku, according to her secretariat.

During the inspections, Yadav instructed distributors to give priority to students, workers and people facing particular difficulties in obtaining cooking gas.

The government’s move comes despite claims by the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation that LPG imports are continuing at levels higher than usual.

Consumers, however, have reported difficulties in finding gas cylinders readily available for purchase.

To address the complaints, the corporation has formed a “quick response team” and stepped up efforts to facilitate LPG distribution.