Former LPG Association Chairman Shivaprasad Ghimire Proposes LPG Subsidy Reform

Kathmandu. Former Chairman of Nepal LP Gas Industry Association Shivaprasad Ghimire has emphasized the need to modify the subsidy provided by the government on cooking gas (LPG) to focus on targeted groups. Speaking at a meeting of the Industry, Commerce, and Consumer Welfare Committee of the Federal Parliament on Wednesday, he proposed selling gas at the full price to general consumers and providing subsidies to the poor through 'cashback'.

Ghimire, who has four decades of experience in the petroleum sector, stated that a scientific pricing system is necessary to reduce the losses of Nepal Oil Corporation and make the organization commercially strong. He expressed concern over the compulsion to rely entirely on Indian vehicles for transportation due to Nepal not having its own gas bullets. He mentioned that although the government provided a 66 percent discount on customs for Nepali bullets, they could not be operated due to obstruction from Indian bodies. Currently, gas is being transported by approximately seven hundred Indian bullets, which he noted also poses a challenge to national security. He recalled that during the blockade, petroleum products could be imported to some extent because of having own tankers, but gas supply was halted due to the lack of own vehicles.