Kathmandu, March 12 -- A few days after the state-owned oil monopoly said imports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), or cooking gas, were normal, it has instructed bottling plants to sell half-filled cylinders to consumers.

The new provision will apply to both household and hotel and restaurant users, the corporation said, adding that the move is aimed at conserving energy even though imports have not been affected.

The board meeting of Nepal Oil Corporation on Thursday took the decision, repeating measures adopted during previous crises in 2015 and 2020, when the country suffered acute shortages of cooking gas.

The fuel monopoly said supplies from India remain normal, but panic buying has been increasing in the Kathmandu Valley.

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