KATHMANDU, April 6: The government has taken steps to reduce consumption of petroleum products, citing potential fuel shortages and rising prices due to the ongoing war in West Asia.
A Cabinet meeting on Sunday decided to introduce a two-day weekend—Saturday and Sunday—starting this week, marking a shift from Nepal’s long-standing single-day break. The new schedule applies to all government offices and educational institutions nationwide, effectively reshaping work and school routines.
Amid ongoing disruptions in petroleum supply, the extended weekend aims to curb fuel use by reducing commuting and administrative operations for one additional day each week. To maintain equivalent working hours, the Cabinet has also extended the workday by one hour, setting office hours from 9 AM to 5 PM.
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Additionally, the government has decided to introduce legal provisions to facilitate the conversion of fossil fuel-based vehicles to electric ones. “This will reduce fuel dependency on one hand, and on the other, it will help increase the use of Nepal’s renewable energy,” said government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel.
Following the outbreak of war between Iran and the USA-Israel coalition, petroleum prices have skyrocketed in the international market. As a result, the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has raised petrol and diesel prices by Rs 40–45 per liter over the past few weeks.
Despite these hikes, the state-owned oil monopoly reports a loss of over Rs 11 billion in just 15 days. Although Nepal has not yet faced a severe fuel crisis, there are growing calls for the government to take further action to curb consumption.
Susheel Bhattarai, former executive director of the NOC, warned that continued losses will soon leave the NOC unable to purchase petroleum products from India if the current situation persists. He urged the government to take timely and effective measures to prevent major supply shocks in the coming days.
Bhattarai advised the government on social media to implement an odd-even vehicle system, delay project works, regulate diesel sales, and adopt other emergency measures used in the past. “The government must explore and adopt alternative strategies with appropriate support to safeguard the NOC,” he said.
Meanwhile, electric car imports tripled in the first seven months of the current fiscal year (FY). According to the Birgunj Customs Office (BCO), traders imported 497 electric four-wheelers worth Rs 1.48 billion between mid-July 2025 and mid-February 2026. During the same period last year, 165 units worth Rs 430 million were imported. Customs revenue from this category rose to Rs 963.60 million from Rs 355 million.
Imports of electric two-wheelers also increased. The BCO recorded 4,128 units worth Rs 805.70 million in the first seven months of the current FY, compared to 3,374 units worth Rs 440.30 million during the same period last year.
