Kathmandu faces household gas shortage again
In Kathmandu, Nepal, residents are once again facing a shortage of liquefied petroleum gas for cooking. A landslide on the Krishnabhir section of the Prithvi Highway—the main supply route to the federal capital—has again disrupted gas deliveries to the city.
People are standing in queues near depots with empty cylinders, registering their names, receiving coupons and returning home uncertain about when they will be able to get gas. Previously, authorities decided to distribute partially filled cylinders, while Nepal Oil Corporation later resumed deliveries of full 14.2-kilogram cylinders.
Supplies and demand
According to the Kathmandu Post, Nepal Oil Corporation says gas is reaching the Kathmandu Valley via alternative routes after cylinders are filled at facilities in Tarai-Madhesh. According to the corporation, 63,383 cylinders were delivered to the valley on Friday and Saturday last week.
At the same time, dealers report insufficient supply volumes that do not allow demand to be met. The publication notes that the declared supply volumes do not correspond to the situation faced by consumers.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Authorities' actions
Most of Nepal's population uses liquefied gas for cooking; it is also important for restaurants and small food establishments. For many residents of rented housing in the Kathmandu Valley, switching to electric appliances is difficult due to unreliable electricity supplies and differing meter-based tariffs across households.
The government decided to establish a coordination point involving district administrations, Nepal Oil Corporation, gas companies and the police. The Kathmandu Post also calls on authorities to track the movement of liquefied gas from dispatch to depots and introduce limits on the number of cylinders that families or commercial entities may own.
According to the publication, possible factors behind the shortage include consumers stockpiling cylinders due to fears of disruptions. Dealers are also accused of creating an artificial shortage and speculation, although these claims are not presented as an established fact.
