Consumers Should Not Be Blamed for the Cooking Gas Shortage; Nepal Needs an Accountable Distribution System

Official figures indicate that imports of liquefied petroleum gas used for cooking remain regular. The concerned authorities insist that there is no actual shortage in the market. Yet consumers across the country are carrying empty cylinders from dealers to company sales centres, and many are unable to obtain cooking gas even after waiting for days. This widening gap between official claims and citizens’ lived experience is the central problem.

The availability of an essential commodity cannot be measured solely by the amount that crosses the customs point. Supply can be considered smooth only when the imported product reaches consumers on time, at the prescribed price and without discrimination. Gas stored at depots or bottling plants but unavailable in household kitchens represents a failure of the distribution system.

A few months ago, Nepal introduced half-filled cylinders amid concerns about possible disruption in the international energy market. When the distribution of full cylinders resumed, imbalances emerged in the circulation of cylinders, consumer demand and market management. Nepal Oil Corporation has said that demand has risen unusually. It has not, however, clearly explained why demand increased, which areas experienced the largest rise and why supply planning was not adjusted accordingly.

The problem cannot be resolved simply by accusing consumers of panic buying, storing additional cylinders or creating unnecessary demand. When public confidence in the regular availability of an essential commodity weakens, citizens naturally prepare for a possible shortage. The responsibility for restoring confidence lies not with consumers, but with the government, Nepal Oil Corporation, gas companies and the distribution network.

Transparent information is most necessary when shortages appear in the market. Authorities should regularly disclose how much gas was imported each day, how much each company received, how many cylinders were dispatched to each district and how many were sold by individual dealers. Publishing only national import figures cannot conceal shortages at the local level.

Nepal’s current distribution system does not provide an easily accessible and credible record of cylinder movement from bottling plants through dealers to consumers. This increases the possibility that influential businesses or a limited number of distributors may control large quantities while genuine consumers return empty-handed or are forced to pay unauthorised prices. Gas companies, transporters, dealers and sales centres should therefore be connected through a unified digital system capable of tracking cylinder movement.

The formation of monitoring teams or rapid-response mechanisms is a positive step, but their impact must be visible in the market. Authorities should publish details of how many locations were inspected, how much stock was found, how many businesses charging above the fixed price faced legal action and how many consumer complaints were resolved. A mechanism that produces no measurable result may demonstrate administrative activity, but it does not keep household kitchens running.

The use of a single distribution system for both domestic and commercial consumers has also contributed to the imbalance. Hotels, restaurants, industries and other commercial establishments consume large quantities of gas. A separate system is required to record, distribute and monitor commercial consumption while protecting the minimum needs of households. Clear criteria should also be established to prioritise hospitals, hostels, community kitchens and low-income families during periods of disruption.

Greater transparency is equally necessary in gas pricing. A fixed retail price becomes meaningless when consumers cannot purchase the product at that price but can obtain a cylinder only by paying more through informal channels. The government’s duty is not limited to announcing a price; it must also ensure that the product is readily available at the declared rate.

The present crisis has once again exposed the weakness of Nepal’s long-term energy security. Heavy dependence on imported cooking gas means that any external conflict, transport disruption or market instability can quickly develop into a national crisis. As domestic electricity generation continues to increase, the use of electric cooking appliances can be expanded through a sustained national programme. Such a transition, however, requires reliable electricity, adequate household wiring, safe appliances and targeted assistance for low-income families.

The cooking gas crisis cannot be resolved merely by asking consumers to remain patient. The government must ensure adequate immediate supply, transparent distribution, effective monitoring and legal action against unfair trading practices. At the same time, Nepal must gradually reduce its dependence on imported fuel by expanding electricity-based cooking systems.

The government must acknowledge one basic truth: essential goods must be available in citizens’ daily lives, not merely in official statistics. Telling people who cannot obtain gas for their kitchens that there is no shortage does not solve the problem. Recognising the public’s actual experience and correcting the distribution system is the first test of accountable governance.