KATHMANDU, March 15: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has increased the import of cooking gas citing short supply after panic buyers rushed to purchase cooking gas in large quantities. 

Consumers have been rushing to stock the cooking fuel at the wake of the Indian government announcing the restrictions for foreign visitors for the next one month. According to the state owned oil monopoly, it has issued an additional 5,000 purchase delivery orders to the gas importers than in the normal days. The monthly consumption of LP gas in the country stands at around 45,000 tons in normal time.

Deepak Baral, director of NOC, said that, there is no disruption in supply of cooking gas and they have been selling adequate quantity of the fuel in the domestic market. Baral said that, the NOC has hugely increased the import of LP gas following the abrupt rise in demand for cooking gas. 

According to the NOC, Nepal imported more than 300 bullets full of liquefied petroleum (LP) gas just on Thursday and Friday. The fuel supply took place via Birgunj, Nepalgunj, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa and Kakadbhitta. The imported gas is expected to fill more than 350,000 empty cylinders. 

Baral said that, some shortage had surfaced after many consumers attempted to stock cooking gas citing the possible shortage following the move of the Indian government. “An increase in hoarding by panic buyers has created some short supply, which is expected to ease in the next few days along with an increase in import,” he said.

 
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