Kathmandu, Aug. 15 -- Nepal Oil Corporation's decision to require customers to show official identity documents to buy liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has drawn widespread criticism, prompting the state-owned oil monopoly to indicate that it could review the requirement.

On Friday, the corporation issued a public notice saying LPG cylinders would be distributed at five designated locations in the Kathmandu Valley on Saturday from 10am to 6pm. The notice said customers would have to present either a citizenship certificate or a National Identity Card to purchase a cylinder.

Nagendra Sah, executive director of NOC, said the requirement was aimed at making distribution fairer and preventing hoarding during supply shortages.

"We introduced t...