Pokhara, 8 September | The supply of cooking liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Kathmandu has declined significantly after a landslide at Krishnabhir along the Prithvi Highway disrupted the transportation of gas to the federal capital. The blockage of the main highway has forced gas companies to use alternative and longer routes, making it difficult to bring sufficient quantities of LPG into the Kathmandu Valley.
Following the landslide, gas industries have been transporting LPG through the Tribhuvan Highway using trucks. However, the alternative route is longer and more difficult, resulting in transportation delays and limiting the volume of gas that can be supplied to meet market demand. Due to the disruption, only 18,259 LPG cylinders from nine gas companies reached dealers across the Kathmandu Valley on Tuesday.
According to LP Gas Industry Association President Diwan Chand, demand for LPG in the Kathmandu Valley has recently increased to around 100,000 cylinders per day. Under normal circumstances, daily demand ranges between 35,000 and 40,000 cylinders. The current disruption has therefore created a major gap between market demand and available supplies.
Data provided by the LPG Department of Nepal Oil Corporation shows that Sagarmatha Gas supplied the highest number of cylinders on Tuesday. The company distributed 4,699 cylinders through 60 dealers. Everest Gas supplied 3,475 cylinders through 28 dealers, while Sugam Gas distributed 2,423 cylinders through 15 dealers.
STC Gas, owned by Salt Trading Corporation, supplied 2,146 cylinders through 44 dealers. Other companies also distributed limited quantities. Sitashree Gas supplied 1,600 cylinders, Shree Gas distributed 1,960 cylinders through 18 dealers, and Shreemaya Gas supplied 1,291 cylinders through 14 dealers. Shreeram Gas distributed only 360 cylinders through nine dealers, while Manoj Gas supplied 305 cylinders through six dealers.
With transportation delays continuing and supplies remaining far below demand, the LPG distribution system in Kathmandu has been seriously affected. Consumers have reportedly been waiting in long queues at dealers and gas industry facilities in the hope of obtaining cooking gas. Businesses have indicated that the supply situation may remain challenging until transportation through the affected highway returns to normal.
