Kathmandu consumers can exchange any brand of gas cylinder for Dashain

Kathmandu Valley consumers will be able to exchange empty gas cylinders of any brand for refills at designated counters during the Dashain festival, a move aimed at easing gas availability. This service will be provided free of charge.Nagendra Sah, Executive Director of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), Nepal’s state-owned oil and gas supplier, stated that the corporation requested gas industrialists to implement this system. The initiative seeks to prevent hardship for consumers with only one cylinder who struggle to find gas due to brand differences, even when supplies are available in the market.Previously, consumers often complained about dealers charging up to Rs 300 as an additional fee for exchanging different company cylinders. Sah confirmed that such fees will no longer be levied, and the service will be entirely free.Shiva Prasad Ghimire, former president of the Nepal LP Gas Industry Association, announced that 15 to 20 main locations in Kathmandu Valley will host joint sales counters to facilitate this exchange. Discussions are underway to establish these counters at sites including the Nepali Army Headquarters, Chhauni, and Sitapaila, under the joint coordination of gas industrialists, Nepal Oil Corporation, the Federation of Gas Dealers, and security agencies.The empty cylinders of various brands collected at these counters will be managed internally by the industrialists. Ghimire emphasized that this facility is exclusively for genuine consumers facing difficulties in obtaining gas, not for businesses or dealers. To prevent misuse, consumers will be required to provide identification details, such as a copy of their citizenship certificate or other proof, and a mobile number at the counter.Nepal Oil Corporation reports no major issues with gas imports from India, with regular supplies maintained. The corporation also stated that gas imports currently exceed normal market consumption capacity.However, the Gas Dealers Federation of Nepal submitted a memorandum to Nagendra Sah, Executive Director of Nepal Oil Corporation, demanding an immediate halt to retail sales by industries and a system for distribution solely through dealers. The federation alleges that there are more cylinders in the market than necessary and that industries are selling new cylinders for Rs 2,500 to Rs 2,700.The government is preparing to implement a policy where only one brand of gas cylinder will be available nationwide. Rudrasingh Tamang, Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, announced that security agencies would also be authorized to distribute cooking gas.During Dashain, gas consumption in Kathmandu Valley typically decreases by about 40% as hundreds of thousands of people leave the capital. Nevertheless, this exchange offer is expected to provide significant relief to consumers remaining in the Valley who rely on a single cylinder and often face the inconvenience of searching multiple shops when their gas runs out.Nepal Oil Corporation stated that a formal announcement detailing the specific service locations will be issued within one to two days, once companies finalize their arrangements.