Er.energyNP@Gmail.com

The imports and sales of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) reached an all-time high in Bhadau (from August 17 to September 16) of the current fiscal year. According to the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), around 4.213 million cylinders, equivalent to 59,833 tonnes of LPG, were imported and distributed across the country during the month.

The NOC said 30,318 tonnes of LPG had been loaded at various refineries and bottling plants of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) as of September 17. LPG sales in Bhadau were around 857,000 cylinders higher than in the same month last year. The NOC had sold around 3.36 million cylinders in Bhadau last year.

Similarly, around 4.04 million cylinders, equivalent to 57,316 tonnes, were sold in Saun and 3.14 million cylinders, equivalent to 44,544 tonnes, in Asar this year. In the corresponding months last year, LPG sales stood at around 3.12 million and 3.38 million cylinders, respectively. The figures show that LPG sales in Saun (from July 17 to August 16) and Bhadau this year remained higher than those recorded in the corresponding months last year.

Binit Mani Upadhyay, director and head of the LP Gas and Aviation Department at the NOC, said LPG imports from the IOC in Bhadau were the highest ever recorded for a single month. “The import of cooking gas in the last two months—Saun and Bhadau —has been significantly higher than during normal periods. Imports in Bhadau were higher than in Saun. We imported around 57,300 tonnes of gas in Saun,” he said.

Following the NOC’s request, the IOC increased LPG supplies to Nepal above the normal level. During normal periods, monthly LPG imports stand at around 45,000 tonnes. However, LPG imports fell to around 27,000 to 31,000 tonnes in Baisakh, Jeth and Asar.

Following the decision to supply half-filled cylinders amid concerns over possible supply disruptions caused by the Iran-Israel war, demand for cooking gas declined, resulting in a reduction in imports. When sales of full-filled cylinders started since Saun, demand for cooking gas suddenly increased and created problem in supply especially in Kathmandu Valley. In the meantime, when the Krishnabhir section of Prithvi Highway was damaged, it also affected supply of cooking gas in Kathmandu Valley.

LPG supply to Valley improving

Supply of LPG has been gradually improving in the Kathmandu Valley, where daily consumption is around 40,000 cylinders, while supplies have already returned to normal in areas outside the Valley, he said.

He said vehicular movement via the Krishnabhir section had fully resumed from September 17, allowing LPG bullets to regularly reach bottling plants in Kathmandu. “LPG bottling industries based in Kathmandu have also resumed refilling gas at their own plants and distributing it to the market,” Upadhyay said.

He expressed confidence that LPG supplies in the Kathmandu Valley would become smoother in the coming days. Based on the current supply of LPG from the IOC, around 59,000 to 60,000 tonnes are expected to enter Nepal in Asoj, he said.

“As the supply of cooking gas has become normal in the Tarai areas, our focus is now on increasing supplies to the Kathmandu Valley. One dedicated NOC officer has been deployed in Barauni to increase supplies to the Kathmandu Valley,” he said.

Despite the increase in overall sales, consumers in the Kathmandu Valley had faced difficulties obtaining LPG from the market in recent weeks. Taking the situation into account, the NOC requested the IOC to increase LPG supplies, resulting in higher imports compared with the same period last year.

Following the disruption of the main road due to a landslide at Krishnabhir, LPG has been refilled at bottling plants in the Tarai and transported to the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding districts through the Tribhuvan Highway and BP Highway.

With traffic through the Krishnabhir section now fully operational, LPG bullets have started arriving regularly at bottling plants in Kathmandu.

The NOC expects the resumption of normal transport through the route to further ease the supply of LPG and other essential commodities in Kathmandu.

Author: Laxman Kafle