Gas Shortage Reappears in Nepal Amidst High Imports

Kathmandu. The market saw a line when the Nepal Oil Corporation directed industries to send only 7.1 kg weight gas cylinders to the market from 29th Falgun to 30th Ashad. In less than 6 months, the market has again seen a severe shortage of gas. Currently, there is a serpentine line of the general public at the Nepal Gas industry in Balaju and the Oil Corporation's office in Teku. The Oil Corporation, the government body responsible for importing gas and petroleum products, claims that more gas is being sent to the market than usual. According to the Oil Corporation, an average of one lakh eight thousand gas cylinders are consumed daily across Nepal. However, even though gas has been imported for the last 10 days to distribute one lakh fifty-six thousand four hundred gas cylinders daily, a shortage persists in the market. The Corporation's data shows that 106 bullets of gas were imported on 11th Shrawan. One bullet contains about 18 tons of gas, which is enough to fill 14.2 kg of gas in an average of 1250 cylinders. However, as soon as filled cylinders started being sent to the market, the consumer queues began at the gas distribution centers. For supply convenience in the Kathmandu Valley, the Corporation has arranged for Nepal, HP, Shriram, Everest, and Sugam brand gas cylinders to be available at the old office in Teku. Similarly, all 59 industries across the country have been directed to provide gas if consumers reach the premises. However, for the past week, instead of the gas supply becoming easier, the inconvenience has increased. According to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the gas supply is most critical in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Makwanpur, Sunsari, Surkhet, Parsa, Pyuthan, and Doti. The ministry's records show that consumers in these districts have to queue for hours at dealers and industries but are unable to get gas.

Currently, there is a serpentine line of the general public at the Nepal Gas industry in Balaju and the Oil Corporation's office in Teku. The Oil Corporation, the government body responsible for importing gas and petroleum products, claims that more gas is being sent to the market than usual. According to the Oil Corporation, an average of one lakh eight thousand gas cylinders are consumed daily across Nepal. However, even though gas has been imported for the last 10 days to distribute one lakh fifty-six thousand four hundred gas cylinders daily, a shortage persists in the market. The Corporation's data shows that 106 bullets of gas were imported on 11th Shrawan. One bullet contains about 18 tons of gas, which is enough to fill 14.2 kg of gas in an average of 1250 cylinders. However, as soon as filled cylinders started being sent to the market, the consumer queues began at the gas distribution centers. For supply convenience in the Kathmandu Valley, the Corporation has arranged for Nepal, HP, Shriram, Everest, and Sugam brand gas cylinders to be available at the old office in Teku. Similarly, all 59 industries across the country have been directed to provide gas if consumers reach the premises. However, for the past week, instead of the gas supply becoming easier, the inconvenience has increased. According to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the gas supply is most critical in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Makwanpur, Sunsari, Surkhet, Parsa, Pyuthan, and Doti. The ministry's records show that consumers in these districts have to queue for hours at dealers and industries but are unable to get gas.