LPG shortage hits small businesses, consumers in Karnali

SURKHET: A growing shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has severely affected small hotels and restaurants across Karnali province. The shortage has forced several businesses to close and pushed others to rely on firewood and electric stoves.

Local business owners in Surkhet and nine surrounding districts—Dailekh, Kalikot, Jumla, Mugu, Humla, Dolpa, Jajarkot, Salyan and Rukum West—say cooking gas is no longer available in the market.

Household consumers as well as small-scale commercial ventures, including eateries and bakeries, have been affected as the current supply is far lower than the demand.

While larger hotels and restaurants are somehow continuing operations by transporting LPG cylinders from as far as Nepalgunj, smaller operators say importing gas from outside the district is financially unsustainable for them. This has left them with little choice but to suspend operations.

Jagat Panta, a local LPG distributor, said more than 500 customers queued on Monday for a shipment of just 150 cylinders. Even when distributing gas under local administrative supervision, more than 300 customers were turned away empty-handed after waiting for hours. Distributors say while they are continuing to collect empty cylinders from consumers, they cannot secure enough refilled cylinders from suppliers to meet the growing demand.

Business owners say alternative cooking methods cannot be of much help for them due to unreliable electricity grids in the region.

The District Administration Office, Surkhet, has directed distributors to reserve 10% of incoming gas supplies for vulnerable groups and students. Assistant Chief District Officer Dil Bahadur Karki said the lack of a dedicated gas depot in Surkhet has worsened the supply challenge in the district.

The local administration has introduced a pass system to distribute gas to people with disabilities, new mothers, elderly citizens and students. A total of 116 cylinders were distributed to these targeted groups on Monday and Tuesday.

Local authorities have increased market monitoring and dispatched police personnel to oversee distribution points to prevent hoarding.

According to Nepal Oil Corporation, 41,517 filled cylinders were delivered to Surkhet between August 1 and August 8.