Gas shortage to remain till Dec

Kathmandu, November 5:

The supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (cooking gas) will not ease even during the Tihar festival, the dealers said today citing inadequate import.

Gyaneswor Aryal, the general secretary of the Nepal Gas Dealers’ Association, said that the amount of LPG being imported from India is inadequate to meet the demand. “To ease the supply there should be a regular import of about 300 tonnes of LPG everyday for one month, but the current import is only about 150 tonnes a day.”

The situation has however been improved in comparison to the past few days after the import, which was halted for the past three months, resumed last week. But the import has not been adequate to meet the demand, he said adding that the problem is more acute in the Valley as gas companies are selling more gas in the Tarai for more profit.

About 1260 metric tonnes of gas has recently been imported into the country, which is being distributed at present. “The current stock will finish in two days. About 700,000 cylinders are empty in the Valley waiting for refilling,” he said.

Jai Raj Chaulagain, central sales incharge of the Nepal Gas Kendriya Depot, said they would not be able to supply the gas to new customers before December 2. “We have empty cylinders in queue before Dashain for refilling. If someone comes in the queue today, he will get the cylinder filled only in December.” He added that due to the shortage for the past few months, the supply won’t ease before Tihar.

During the festivals like Tihar and the approaching wedding season, the demand goes higher than the normal, but the supply would not ease unless the import is increased, Aryal added.

The normal monthly demand of LPG in the Valley is about 8500 metric tonnes.