The Ministry of Finance (MoF) finally walked the talk when it comes to substituting the use of LPG with an electric stove (popularly known as an induction stove).

Minister for Finance Janardan Sharma had while unveiling the budget for the ongoing fiscal year 2022/23 on May 29 this year mentioned that he would make an arrangement in the budget's point no 253 to substitute all gas cylinders with electric stoves in Singha Durbar by mid-August this year and gradually at all other public offices and residences inside the Metropolitan cities and Sub-Metropolitan cities will be made gas cylinder free.

Similarly, he had pledged to make the use of electric stoves nationwide gradually within the forthcoming three months from the day of the announcement.

Minister Sharma today initiated the usage of an electric stove in the canteen of the MoF and urged all the ministries and other public offices to follow suit.

He instructed all the subordinate bodies to substitute LPG cylinders with the electric stove at the earliest, according to Minister's public relations advisor Manarishi Dhital.

A huge chunk of Nepal's foreign currency reserve was going out while importing the LPG gas cylinders for household and industrial use.

The incumbent government addressed the issue at the policy level and adopted the policy to encourage the usage of electricity and electric vehicles, and stoves as much as possible. To encourage the usage of electric stoves, the government has considered some concessions in the tariff of electricity to those using electric stoves.

Owing to various reasons, the Singha Durbar's canteens were not able to substitute LPG gas cylinders with the electric stove since mid-July, interrupted supply of electricity being one.

Minister Sharma instructed to implement the provision in the budget to increase domestic consumption of electricity, said advisor Dhital.