Nepal Seeks Three-Month Additional LPG Quota From India

Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister Gauri Kumari Yadav said the government is taking measures to balance the supply and demand of liquefied petroleum gas amid concerns over shortages.

Responding to lawmakers’ questions during Friday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Yadav said the government had stepped up market monitoring and facilitation to ensure a smooth supply of LPG.

She said diplomatic efforts were also underway to secure an additional three-month import quota of LPG from India, citing a rise in demand for the cooking fuel.

Yadav said LPG distributors had been instructed to prioritise household consumers and make distribution more systematic by keeping records of customers’ names, addresses and contact numbers. Senior citizens, people with disabilities and those suffering from chronic illnesses have been given priority in cylinder distribution, she said.

According to Yadav, Nepal has imported enough LPG to meet regular demand compared with the same period last year. However, a supply-demand imbalance emerged after consumers began receiving full cylinders following a period during the West Asia conflict when only half-filled cylinders were distributed.

“There is sufficient LPG in the country to meet regular demand, but consumption has increased after full cylinders resumed,” Yadav said.

She said 58 LPG bottling plants are currently operating across the country, with a combined storage capacity of 10,166 metric tonnes. The plants have a combined capacity to fill 175,000 cylinders a day.

Yadav said the concerned authorities had been instructed to implement directives issued by the parliamentary committee and that market monitoring had been intensified. Nepal Oil Corporation has also begun technical work to track LPG cylinders, she said.

She urged consumers not to be misled by rumours, buy LPG only according to their needs and refrain from stockpiling multiple cylinders.

Lawmakers urged the government to ensure a smooth supply of LPG. During the urgent session, they also raised concerns over monsoon-related disasters, healthcare services, road infrastructure, LPG supply, social security and the agriculture sector.