Nepal rations LPG cylinders as East Asia conflict triggers demand surge

Mar 14, 2026

Kathmandu (Nepal), March 14 (ANI): Nepal has begun rationing LPG cylinders as demand surges amid supply concerns linked to the ongoing conflict in East Asia. The state-run Nepal Oil Corporation has started distributing 7.1-kilogram LPG cylinders—half the usual quantity—to households as well as hotels and restaurants to manage consumption.The move aims to conserve energy and ensure wider availability of cooking gas. Visuals from Kathmandu show long queues outside distribution centres, with residents waiting for hours to obtain LPG refills. Consumers say they are struggling to secure cylinders and are increasingly turning to firewood as an alternative.Officials say Nepal’s monthly LPG demand stands at 45,000–46,000 tonnes, with imports continuing, even as panic buying rises in the Kathmandu Valley.