NTL starts distributing LP gas

KATHMANDU, Jan 26:

National Trading Limited (NTL) has begun distribution of liquefied petroleum (LP) gas of 23 different brands from its Teku-based office.

The state-owned body started distribution of the popular cooking fuel in association with LP gas bottlers, as per the direction of Minister for Commerce and Supplies Sunil Bahadur Thapa. A week ago Minister Thapa had directed public enterprises, like NTL, to do the needful for easing LP gas availability in the market.

According to NTL officials, they sold 2,441 units of LP gas cylinders on Sunday alone. LP gas bottlers had provided NTL 2,800 cylinders on the day. "We plan to distribute LP gas of different brands from our office for a week," Shyam Shrestha, senior officer of NTL, told Republica. "We are hopeful that this will normalize the situation."

The market has been witnessing shortage of LP gas for the past two months after bottlers refused to exchange empty cylinders to circulate new cylinders as a tactic to press the government to raise their supply quota. Dealers helped the bottlers by not exchanging empty cylinders. They, however, were readily selling new cylinders.

Shambhu Koirala, director general of Department of Commerce and Supply Management (DoCSM), said the distribution system adopted by NTL will give huge relief to consumers.

“We will also talk with MoCS regarding the possibility of distribution LP gas from NTL and other state-owned enterprises throughout the year,” added Koirala.

Source: Republica