The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) Managing Director Birendra Goit has claimed that NOC is not responsible for the ongoing shortage of cooking gas.

Speaking at an interaction in the Capital on Tuesday, Goit made it clear that the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) slashed supplies of LPG to Nepal due to maintenance work at its Barauni depot which caused the shortage in Nepal.

He informed that only 18,886 metric tones of gas was supplied against the demand of 25,000 metric tones in the month of December. He hoped the short supply will end within this week.

Likewise, Gyaneshwor Aryal, president of the Federation of Gas Dealers said, although there was shortage due to maintenance at Barauni refinery, some dealers were also involved in creating artificial shortage by keeping stock more than their capacity. He demanded the scrutiny and inspection of such dealers.

Similarly, Shiva Prasad Ghimire, president of the Nepal LPG Gas Industry Association, blamed the government for the shortage and opined that the gas shortage would continue for one more year if government fails to make the supply smooth.

He said the current supply stands at only 40 percent of market demand and a mere inspection would not ease the gas supply.