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Gas cylinders have started piling up in LPG bullets as demand has decreased. This is due to the government’s decision to sell half-filled cylinders and the growing trend of cooking with electricity. Industry operators say they are unable to refill gas from bullets because many cylinders are already in the market.

After the introduction of half-weight (7.1 kg) cylinders, the shortage of empty cylinders has led to gas accumulating in bullets. With gas supply becoming regular, imports have also declined. According to Nepal Oil Corporation, under normal conditions, the monthly demand is around 45,000 to 48,000 metric tons, but only 18,000 metric tons were imported in the last 15 days.

To ease supply when there was a shortage in the market, the corporation had instructed industries from Falgun 28 to distribute half-filled cylinders.

The Nepal LP Gas Industry Association has requested the corporation to allow full-cylinder distribution again, stating that distributing half-filled cylinders has caused a shortage of empty cylinders and increased transportation costs.

The association says that sending half-filled cylinders to the market has consumed all available cylinders, while reduced gas consumption has forced companies to hold gas in bullets and storage, creating operational problems.

Association president Diwan Chand said that due to the distribution of half-filled cylinders, they are unable to refill gas, causing it to be held in bullets. “Gas consumption has dropped by 50 percent,” he said. “Due to the lack of empty cylinders for refilling, we are forced to store gas in bullets.” He added that rising fuel prices and transportation costs have increased the financial burden, prompting a request to resume full-cylinder distribution.

Previously, transporting a truck of full-weight gas cost around NPR 20,000, but transporting half-weight cylinders costs the same, increasing expenses for businesses. According to the association, companies currently have 12,000 to 13,000 metric tons of gas in storage and around 350 bullets holding gas. One bullet holds about 18 metric tons.

Since company storage is already full and there is no space to refill, continued holding of gas could soon lead to a shortage of bullets available for importing gas.

According to the corporation, under normal conditions, 75 to 80 bullets of gas arrive daily, but during shortages, imports had increased to 100 to 120 bullets per day. Spokesperson Manoj Thakur said that as consumption has dropped, imports have also decreased. “As the war in the West continues, we must consider international conditions,” he said. “Since decisions cannot be reversed immediately, it is not possible to resume full-cylinder distribution right away.”

Gas Dealers Federation president Gyaneshwor Aryal said that with half-filled cylinders, gas is being held by consumers and bullets are also full, making it necessary to return to distributing 14.2 kg cylinders.

According to the corporation, there are about 14.2 million gas cylinders in the market.

The price of a half-filled cylinder is NPR 1,005, while a full cylinder costs NPR 2,010.