LP Gas Shortage Fears Rise in Rupandehi Amid West Asia Conflict Concerns, Authorities Monitor Supply

Butwal. Fears of an LP gas shortage are growing among consumers in Rupandehi as concerns rise over potential disruptions to imports due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Due to rumors of gas scarcity in the market, many consumers have started hoarding cylinders at home and in hotels, making it difficult to obtain gas around Butwal.

Gaurav Khanal of Milan Chowk, Butwal, expressed happiness after being able to refill his gas cylinder only two days after it ran out. He mentioned that he had another filled cylinder, so he was fine for a few days, but had to eat at a hotel after that one ran out.

Similarly, Lekhnath Neupane, former chairman of the Hotel and Restaurant Entrepreneurs Association Rupandehi, stated that when hotels request gas, traders keep delaying them. ‘They always tell us to come back after two days,’ he complained.

Samudra GC, coordinator of the Consumer Interest Protection Forum Rupandehi, says that while there is no complete shortage of gas in the market, it is not as easy to obtain as before. ‘We are monitoring daily. Consumers are not in a situation where they cannot get gas, but it is not as easy as it was previously,’ he said.

In recent days, as news of the war and reports of gas shortages in places like Kathmandu have spread, consumers in Rupandehi have also started purchasing more gas than necessary.

Meanwhile, there is also suspicion that some gas dealers might be engaging in malpractice by smuggling gas towards India through the border areas.

Rupandehi's Sunauli customs point is regularly importing cooking LP gas. The gas received from the customs office is being supplied to the gas industries in this region through the Nepal Oil Corporation's provincial office in Bhairahawa.

Meghnath Padhya, Assistant Chief District Officer of Rupandehi, stated that daily monitoring is being conducted in the market, and surveillance has been increased considering the possibility that some traders might manipulate the situation to transport gas towards India via border areas through fields.

He informed that some traders in Sainamaina and Butwal have been warned and fined. He added that the problem is also seen because consumers are panicking and trying to stock up on too much gas. The situation is expected to ease in a few days.

Regular Imports via Sunauli Customs

Cooking LP gas is being regularly imported through Rupandehi's Sunauli customs point. The gas received from the customs office is being supplied to the gas industries in this region through the Nepal Oil Corporation's provincial office in Bhairahawa.

Uddhav Dhungana, Information Officer and Customs Officer at Bhairahawa Customs Office, informed that the volume of gas imported is similar to that of February last year.

According to him, 6,758 metric tons of gas were imported in Poush, 6,575 metric tons in Magh, and 7,488 metric tons in Falgun. He said, ‘Imports are happening at the daily average rate. Looking at the supply ratio, there should be no shortage.’

Shailendra Bhusal, Chief of the Lumbini Provincial Office of Nepal Oil Corporation in Bhairahawa, stated that gas imports increased by about 10 percent in Falgun compared to other months. According to him, since there has been no reduction in gas coming from India, there should not be a real shortage. ‘Consumers are panicking and starting to stock up excessively. Some traders might be saying there is no gas with the intention of selling new cylinders,’ he said.

Pradip Pant, Chairman of the Gas Sellers Association Rupandehi, stated that the shortage appears because consumers are suddenly trying to exchange empty cylinders at home, leading to a rush. Pant, who is also a central member of the Nepal Gas Dealers Federation, said that there is no gas shortage in Butwal, but some gas dealers might be engaging in malpractice. He mentioned that he is making gas easily available at his sales point and has even posted his contact number on social media for those who cannot get gas. He drew the attention of the administration to take action against anyone trying to hoard cylinders for black marketing.

The District Administration Office has stated that it is continuously monitoring to prevent black marketing and artificial shortages of gas in Rupandehi. Rupandehi has Trishul, Siddhartha, Panchamahalaxmi, and Aarti and Chandi industries from Nawalparasi West. Cylinders from Janaki, Siddhanath, and Gandaki industries outside the district also come to the Rupandehi market.

New Strategy by Oil Corporation to Prevent Unnecessary Cylinder Stockpiling

The Lumbini Provincial Office of the Nepal Oil Corporation has implemented a new strategy to control the potential shortage of LP gas. To prevent artificial gas shortages and discourage consumers from hoarding excessive cylinders, a rule has been implemented to sell gas in limited quantities and mandate the submission of daily details of gas transactions.

Shailendra Bhusal, Chief of the Nepal Oil Corporation's Lumbini Provincial Office in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, stated that this arrangement has been made to make the supply and distribution of gas transparent.

According to him, all authorized gas dealers in the districts under the Lumbini Provincial Office must submit daily details of the gas received from the industry and the entire amount sold to consumers to the District Administration Office and the Corporation's Provincial Office.

The Corporation has tightened controls to prevent the creation of artificial shortages and to streamline the distribution system.

According to Bhusal, this arrangement will clarify the actual status of gas received by dealers from industries and the sales. Furthermore, details including the citizenship or ID card number of the consumer must be recorded when selling gas. The Corporation believes this system can also control the tendency of a single consumer to repeatedly buy gas and hoard unnecessarily.

He asserted that there has been no problem so far in importing petroleum products from the conflict-affected areas, and there is no shortage at any petrol pump in the 13 districts supplied from here.

The Corporation's Lumbini Provincial Office in Bhairahawa supplies petroleum products and gas to the districts of West Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Gulmi, Syangja, Arghakhanchi, Palpa, East Rukum, Rolpa, and Baglung.