In Nepal, there is ongoing tension and blame among consumers, businesses, and government authorities regarding the shortage of cooking gas (LPG). For several years, the government has been encouraging households to increase their use of electric stoves. However, in this context, can the country confidently rely on electric stoves as an alternative? Sandeep Kumar Dev, spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, states, “They can be used confidently. However, our electricity distribution system is still undergoing improvements, so it may not be fully reliable for some time.” Regarding electricity availability, Dev pointed out that sufficient power is generally available throughout the year for cooking purposes. “There may be shortages during the dry season, but this issue is being addressed by purchasing electricity from India,” he added.
The average monthly demand for cooking gas in Nepal is approximately 48,000 to 49,000 metric tons. Vinod Kafle, General Secretary of the Gas Sellers Federation, remarked, “Even if gas availability is adequate, shortages could have been avoided if there were strict limits on how many cylinders a household can possess. Due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, consumers have been stockpiling gas cylinders ahead of upcoming festivals and the winter season.” He further noted, “The government is making significant efforts to increase the use of induction and infrared stoves powered by electricity, but the consumption of gas has not decreased substantially.”
Experts suggest that the primary reason for continued LPG reliance is irregular and inadequate electric power supply. Acknowledging the issue, spokesperson Dev said, “We all experience occasional power outages due to management challenges. Our focus is on making electricity supply more reliable and of higher quality.” Energy expert Suresh Bahadur Bhattarai added that consumers have not yet moved away from traditional energy consumption patterns. “However, the critical question now is whether all Nepali households have electrical wiring installed to support induction stoves,” stated Bhattarai, who has long served at the power dispatch center of Nepal Electricity Authority.
