LPG shortages and highway blockage spark queues and political fallout in Kathmandu

A mix of falling LPG imports, pent-up consumer demand and the August 30 collapse of the Prithvi Highway at Krishnabhir has created severe shortages of cooking gas in Kathmandu, forcing residents to wait for hours in line. After the Nepal Oil Corporation limited sales to half-filled cylinders in February, demand spiked when full cylinders were reintroduced in July, while many empty cylinders re-entered the market simultaneously.

With the main supply road blocked, companies are refilling cylinders at plants in several districts and using longer routes, but the Nepal LP Gas Industry Association says this does not meet household needs. Transport costs have risen and reports of black-market sales have emerged, prompting the association to warn suppliers. The supply crunch triggered the resignation of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister Gauri Kumari Yadav after she criticized producers and officials. Officials say regular deliveries over the next two months could restore normalcy if the highway is reopened.