As the market shows signs of a cooking gas shortage, the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has rushed to dismiss any talk of a shortage. LPG stocks are said to be healthy and imports, according to official figures, are running above the usual level. The message is people should not worry. But walk into a gas shop in Kathmandu and you will face the ground reality. Customers are told to wait four to five days. Dealers offer vague assurances. Between what the data says and what households face, a gap has opened, and it keeps growing. NOC says supply is moving smoothly from India. It points to recent imports when 140 gas bullets were loaded, followed by another day with 100 bullets, both above the seasonal average. The daily demand, NOC says, stays around 70 to 75 bullets, or about 1,260 tonnes. To stay ahead of winter use and election season pressure, it has issued about 10 percent more purchase delivery orders to importers. On paper, these numbers look comforting. Those closer to the trade tell a different story. Gas bottlers and dealers say winter use jumps by around 15 percent, stretching an already tight chain. They also point to lower supplies from Indian depots, especially Barauni, in recent days.
LPG supply under scrutiny as NOC rejects shortage claims
Transport of gas through bullets remain in short supply. Refineries across the border have faced operational trouble. All of this goes down to the retail level, where people wait days for a refill. Import figures sit somewhere in the middle. In the first 25 days of January, Nepal imported about 38,000 tonnes of LPG, less than what came in during December and November. Annual imports have risen, but monthly dips still shape what reaches homes.So, why did NOC move so quickly to deny a shortage? Because even a hint of trouble can spark panic buying. In Nepal, rumors spread faster than supply trucks. Once people hear the word shortage, cylinders vanish overnight. Dealers start holding stock. Prices inch up quietly through side deals. NOC has seen this cycle before. By rejecting the claim outright, it tries to cool nerves and shield itself from blame. That approach may steady headlines, but it does not put gas back into empty kitchens.The supply chain itself remains fragile. NOC issues delivery orders. Private bottlers lift gas from depots in Barauni, Mathura, and Haldia. Transporters haul it across the border.
Dealers manage the last stretch to households. A delay at any stage ripples through the system. Since Nepal depends entirely on imports from India, even a small disruption there shows up almost at once in local markets. Retailers’ practices add to the strain. Some dealers slow distribution when stock tightens, hoping to avoid angry crowds or manage limited supply. The problem goes deeper beyond LPG. Nepali markets often see shortages of essentials even without a full supply breakdown. Weaker supervision and coordination, and a habit of reacting late keep repeating such problems. Every government talks of reforms but entrenched systems rarely change. When pressure builds, officials are quick to deny shortage and the public become victims of such shortage. Cooking gas shortages, real or perceived, hit homes first and hardest. Reports may show bright figures, but policymakers must dive deep to perceive the ground realities. If supply chains are not regulated retailers are not scrutinized tightly, our nation will keep witnessing shortages while families wait in line. That should concern our authorities and they should be serious about fixing how essential goods are supplied and accessed.
