12th March 2026 – (Kathmandu) Nepal will introduce rationing of cooking gas from Friday as authorities attempt to ease public anxiety over a potential nationwide shortage linked to tensions in the Middle East.
Chandika Prasad Bhatta, executive director of the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation, said refilling stations would supply only half the usual volume for empty liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders in order to stretch existing reserves. The measure is intended to stabilise distribution and discourage panic buying.
Despite repeated assurances from officials that stock levels remain sufficient, long queues have formed outside bottling plants across the country, with households rushing to secure supplies. Nepal relies heavily on imports from India for its fuel needs, including cooking gas, leaving it vulnerable to regional supply disruptions.