KATHMANDU, MAR 18 - LP gas traders on Wednesday warned that they would bring distribution to a total halt from March 21 because of inadequate deliveries by Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC).

The traders have submitted a warning letter to NOC that they would lock out all its units and give the keys to the district administration office if it did not listen to their demands and honour the agreement signed with it on March 2.

On Feb. 25, the sale and distribution of LP gas was stopped after the gas industry and the agents of gas dealers resorted to agitation. The traders said that they had been forced to move as NOC had cut deliveries of the fuel by more than 50 percent.

"We received 45-50 bullets daily for six days after the agreement was signed. However, the supply started decreasing gradually," said Suresh Prajapati, general secretary of Gas Industry Nepal.

One bullet contains 17.5 tons of LP gas or one tanker load. Demand for gas surged to 17,000 tons from 12,000 tons in five months due to irregular supply and distribution.

"This is totally irresponsible of NOC as it had made a written commitment to maintain regular supply," Prajapati added.

Gas traders said that they were feeling insecure from irate customers because of the inadequate stock  "One seller in Balaju was beaten up by a customer as he was unable to provide gas to him," Prajapati said.

He added that a delegation of gas dealers and sellers had met with the supplies minister on Wednesday and that he had assured them that supply would become regular from Thursday.  There are 26 LP gas factories across the country and about 200 to 250 tankers are used for importing and distributing the fuel.

Posted on: 2010-03-18 12:00

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