Why Has Nepal Experienced a Shortage of Cooking Gas and When Will It Normalize?
Image source, Nepal Photo Library
Published
Reading time: 5 minutes
Following a sudden shortage of cooking gas in the market, Nepal Oil Corporation began retail gas distribution from Teku on Saturday.
However, gas shortages appeared despite ‘regular supply’ from India. Why did this happen?
According to Nepal Oil Corporation spokesman Manojkumar Thakur, the shortage surfaced as distribution shifted from half cylinders to full cylinders at 14.2 kilograms each.
“When 7.1-kilogram cylinders were being distributed, the market supply was sufficient,” Thakur explained.
“But the market was hit with a sudden shock as full cylinders were introduced,” he added.
The spokesman said Nepal Oil Corporation only decided to distribute full-cylinder gas after receiving a firm commitment of supply from Indian Oil Corporation, and the current shortage is unlikely to last long as a result.
The Nepal Gas Industry Association also explained that since consumers who waited during half-cylinder sales all came to refill full cylinders simultaneously, the demand exceeded supply capacity.
What Is Causing the Shortage?
Image source, EPA/Shutterstock
The Oil Corporation noted that a sudden rush of customers waiting to obtain full-cylinder gas simultaneously resulted in the shortage.
“It is a sudden spike in demand in the market. The situation is expected to normalize within 10 to 12 days once the supply cycle completes,” spokesman Thakur said.
Dharmaraj Bartola, vice president of Nepal Gas Industry Association, stated that the simultaneous purchase rush caused the shortage but also highlighted some shortcomings on the corporation’s part.
“When the corporation supplied 7.1 kg cylinders, the process to extend the supply quantity to 14.2 kg cylinders was to take around three months under Indian regulations, but they failed to lift the required gas on time,” he explained.
“Half cylinders remain stocked in the market, meaning the full-cylinder supply is effectively only delivering half the expected service, and Indian Oil Corporation has also reduced supply.”
Following the introduction of half-cylinder gas distribution in Nepal, a sudden drop in gas imports has been observed.
According to the corporation, while distributing 7.1 kg cylinders, customers generally refilled less gas than before, lowering demand.
The spokesman added that continuous half-cylinder distribution led India to supply only 32 to 38 metric tons of gas to Nepal.
Gas traders claim that India reduced Nepal’s quota, thereby cutting supply.
When Will the Situation Normalize?
Image source, Nepal Photo Library
Officials from Nepal Oil Corporation say the daily demand for gas is between 90 to 95 trucks of cylinders. According to Thakur, more than 100 trucks are currently being loaded daily at Indian fuel centers to address the shortage.
After arrival in Nepal, these trucks require about one week to fill gas cylinders through industry channels.
It is expected that the gas shortage will gradually ease once this process is completed.
“More than 100 trucks are entering Nepal daily through various border points,” Thakur stated.
The corporation claims it is supplying 10 to 20 percent more gas than usual and is confident this will satisfy demand in coming days.
Bartola from the industry association said the issue arises because some households hoard multiple cylinders, and that the situation will improve with additional gas supply.
“Nepal Oil Corporation is making efforts to increase supply, and we are supporting those efforts,” Bartola noted.
“I believe the situation will somewhat resolve within 10 to 12 days.”
‘There Is No Need to Panic’
Image source, Nepal Photo Library
Nepal Oil Corporation has urged the public not to hoard gas unnecessarily, emphasizing that there is no shortage at an alarming level.
“There is no cause to panic. Buy gas only as needed because hoarding creates difficulties for students and lower-income families who own only one cylinder,” the spokesman said.
“If one cylinder suffices, let’s just keep that.”
Industry experts believe that the recent Iran war may have prompted consumers to increase their home storage. Earlier, a peace agreement between the US and Iran had raised expectations for smooth supply, but the conflict’s resumption has increased concerns.
“Some households have stocked 4-5 cylinders while others have none. If everyone practiced moderation, there would be no shortage, but it’s difficult to control consumer behavior,” Bartola explained.
Current regulations urge both traders and vendors to prioritize household cooking gas over commercial usage.
Thakur explained that vendors have been instructed to keep records of buyers and not to provide multiple cylinders to a single family at once.
“One cylinder lasts a family of four for a month. If vendors comply, storage issues will ease,” Thakur said.
Complaints about cooking gas shortages can be observed at the counters in the Nepal Oil Corporation’s Teku office premises, where spokespeople have responded to consumer concerns.