Kathmandu, February 10
When will the cooking gas shortage will end? The state-run importer and distributor of petroleum products, Nepal Oil Corporation, has no idea. Even after reopening of the Birgunj customs, which accounts for around 80 per cent of Nepal’s imports, import of cooking gas has not increased, the NOC says, citing the reason behind a continued shortage of the essential.
Mukunda Ghimire, spokesperson for the NOC, says the Indian Oil Corporation is yet to send enough cooking gas bullets in Nepal, like in normal times. Because of this, it will be difficult to reduce the shortage immediately, he says, adding: “The IOC has been refusing to supply gas as per our demand.”
“In response to our letter sent in February, the IOC pledged to supply gas as per the old quota. But it has not kept the pledge.” Despite reopening of the Birgunj customs, India has not given us enough loading, says NOC. On Tuesday, the IOC sent only 25 gas bullets, way below the normal daily dispatch of 55-60 gas bullets.
During the Indian blockade, IOC used to supply only 11 per cent of Nepal’s total cooking gas requirement. In the last few days, it has been supplying 35-45 per cent of the total requirement.
According to Ghimire, the NOC has been finding it hard to supply cooking gas in the market because India is not supplying even 50 per cent of Nepal’s gas requirement.
Apparently, the gas shortage will not vanish into the thin air unless the IOC increases gas supply to Nepal.
