Government Prepares Security Outlets to Sell Cooking Gas

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies plans to permit security agencies to sell liquefied petroleum gas through their fuel stations to mitigate shortages during emergencies. Ministry Secretary Rudra Singh Tamang told a parliamentary committee that opening gas outlets at pumps run by the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and the Armed Police Force will provide a buffer against supply bottlenecks, according to Nagarik News, Karobar Daily, and DC Nepal.

The initiative comes amid retail bottlenecks despite adequate overall imports. Dewan Bahadur Chand, president of the Nepal LP Gas Industry Association, told Ratopati that 125 to 130 gas bullets arrive daily from Indian refineries, delivering Kathmandu 60,000 to 70,000 cylinders against typical daily demand of 40,000. Chand explained that past road disruptions and dealer hoarding have created local shortages, which the ministry intends to curb through security-run sales points.