LPG availability eases

KATHMANDU, March 7: Though supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has eased to some extent, gas bottlers said it will take another two weeks to get the popular cooking fuel on demand.



LPG dealers retailing the most consumed brands of gas in the capital like Nepal Gas said they are presently supplying gas to consumers within 7-10 days of getting the order. Till a fortnight ago, consumers queuing for over a month too were not getting the supply.[break]



“Supply has improved over the last 10 days. However, it will still take next 15 days for the situation to turn normal,” said Kush Kumar Malli, general secretary of Nepal LPG Industries Association.



He attributed the gradual improvement in situation to increased imports. Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the state-owned petroleum monopolist, had announced that the country imported record 17,000 tons of gas in February. It plans to import around 18,000 tons to improve supplies in March. If the plan materializes, bottlers say the scarcity will end completely.



However, as NOC is presently incurring a loss of Rs 553 per cylinder (14.2 kg) of gas, they expressed doubt over NOC sticking to its plan.



Meanwhile, in a bid to check weaknesses in supply management, NOC has issued a code of conduct for LPG dealers that serve as the retailing hands of the LPG bottlers. In the new code of conduct, NOC has barred the firms trading on grocery and any other products to retail gas.



“If a trader wants to be a LPG dealer, s/he should solely trade on gas or at least possess a separate outlet for gas,” reads the code of conduct. The dealers must register their firms with the NOC as well as the tax office and should have spacious storage facility to store cylinders.



The electrification at both outlet and store should be done properly so that risks of accidents through electric short circuit could be avoided. They must also have effective fire fighting system.



“Dealer must have weighing machines as well so that consumers can personally cross-check to ascertain whether they are getting the stipulated quantity (14.2 kg) of gas in the cylinder,” the code of conduct states.



Dealers must adhere to the new code of conduct within 21 days, starting Friday.



“We welcome the new code of conduct as it is aimed at making the dealers accountable to the government, companies and consumers. It will also make the LPG retail business safe and also facilitate consumers,” said Malli.

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