Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The supply of LP Gas (LPG) that has been witnessing shortage in various parts of the country including the Kathmandu Valley for the past few days has gradually eased. According to the NOC, although there was a sudden shortage of LPG cylinders after the company started selling 14.2 kg gas cylinders from July 14, the shortage of cooking gas has been reduced with the continuous increase in the import from India and the smooth distribution process.

According to NOC’s LP Gas Department Director Binit Mani Upadhyaya, although problems were seen in the initial days after the NOC started selling 14.2 kg LP gas. “The supply has been increased to meet the demand of the consumers, for which the Indian Oil Corporation has also assisted. “, he said. Stating that the supply of cooking gas was continuous, he urged the consumers to store only the required quantity of gas.

“Even now, more than 100 bullets are being loaded daily from IOC’s refinery, there is some problem due to the shift from 7.1 kg to 14.2 kg. Director Upadhyay said. In view of the developed situation in West Asia, the NOC had made arrangements to sell 7.1 kg gas cylinders from March 12 to make the supply and distribution of cooking gas systematic.

Consumers did not like half cylinder

After the shortage of cooking gas was seen in February last year, the corporation made arrangements to sell half (7.1 kg) of LPG cylinders. Industrialists say that although the sale of half a cylinder will solve the problem immediately, consumers have been holding on to the cylinder in the hope of getting a full gas cylinder soon.

The demand for cooking gas decreased after the sale of 7.1 kg LPG. Around 46,000 metric tons of cooking gas was consumed in Nepal monthly. Nepal imported 50,000 metric tonnes less cooking gas in the four months from March 14 to July 14. “We felt that the general public preferred 14.2 kg. Director Upadhyay said.

Krishna Bhakta Shrestha, president of LP Gas Industry Association of Nepal, said although there was some decrease in the import of half-cylinder gas in the last four months, the volume of import has been steadily increasing of late. He urged the people not to hoard gas unnecessarily, and to give first priority to the needy groups.

Increasing volume of imports

Currently, the import of cooking gas has been steadily increasing. It shows that 44,318 metric tonnes of cooking gas was imported in the last fiscal year. In the last 22 days, 39,774 metric tonnes of cooking gas (LPG) has been imported. On this basis, it is estimated that around 55,000 metric tons of cooking gas will be imported in the current fiscal year.

“This is a very good quantity in terms of what is being imported now, so around 54,000 to 55,000 metric tons of gas is expected to be imported in July,” he said. Director Upadhyay said. Meanwhile, the government has been making diplomatic efforts with India to increase the quota for gas import for three months so that there is no shortage during big festivals. Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Gauri Kumari Yadav, has said that the ministry was effortful to maintain a balance between the increasing demand and supply of cooking gas in the House of Representatives.

According to him, although the import of LPG was sufficient to meet the regular demand compared to the previous year, the supply and demand of the gas cylinder was started in the market after the supply of full cylinder was started in the middle. Currently, 58 LP gas industries are in operation in the country. These factories have storage capacity of 10,166 metric tonnes and filling capacity of 17.5 million cylinders daily.