Kathmandu— The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is continuing a special drive to distribute Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders directly to consumers in the Kathmandu Valley, addressing an urgent shortage of cooking gas. Following the sale of 6,802 cylinders at five locations on Saturday, NOC announced it will open seven additional distribution points on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., coordinating with the District Administration Office, Kathmandu.

Distribution Locations and Brands

LPG cylinders will be available at the NOC premises in Teku, the Animal Service Branch in Chapali and Budhanilkantha, Radha Swami premises in Kirtipur, Naya Bazar Judo Hall, Tarakeshwor Municipality premises, Chandragiri Municipality Office, and the National Tuberculosis Centre in Thimi, Bhaktapur. Each location will offer a variety of brands, including Nepal, HP, Everest/Sugam, Shriram, and Sagar, though availability varies by outlet. Consumers can purchase cylinders from these locations by presenting either their citizenship certificate or National Identity Card.

Saturday’s Distribution and Coupon Priority

On Saturday, the NOC distributed LPG at five different locations, successfully reaching 6,802 consumers facing immediate needs. The corporation noted that some brands were in short supply during Saturday's distribution. To address this, those who attended Saturday’s designated locations within the allotted time but did not receive their preferred brand will be given priority access on Sunday through a coupon system.

NOC Assures Regular Imports and Urges Restraint

The NOC stated that regular LPG imports are ongoing and gas industries continue to distribute cylinders through established dealer networks. The corporation urged consumers to avoid unnecessary stockpiling of cooking gas, requesting that only those with genuine needs utilize the designated distribution points.

The NOC will continue monitoring the situation and adjusting distribution efforts as needed to ensure consistent access to LPG for residents of Kathmandu Valley.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.