Banking News – Salt Trading Corporation has urged consumers not to panic over reports of an LPG shortage, stating that cooking gas supplies remain regular and that the current situation is largely the result of panic buying and excessive stockpiling fueled by rumors.

Corporation spokesperson Kumar Raj Bhandari said that while a fire at India’s Haldia LPG plant led to some logistical adjustments in the supply chain, Nepal’s LPG supply has not been disrupted.

According to Bhandari, Salt Trading is dispatching its entire daily LPG production to the market without holding back any stock.

“We are not storing LPG after production. Whatever we produce is being supplied to the market,” he said.

The corporation is currently distributing around 5,600 LPG cylinders daily and is making efforts to further increase supply to meet growing demand.

Bhandari noted that demand has surged unexpectedly in recent days, with not only regular customers but also consumers who usually use other LPG brands switching to Salt Trading cylinders. This has resulted in unusually large crowds at distribution centers.

He emphasized that the current situation is not a supply crisis, but rather a consequence of consumers purchasing and storing more cylinders than they normally require.

“People are buying more LPG cylinders than they actually need because of rumors. Gas imports have not stopped, and supplies continue to arrive regularly from India through LPG bullet tankers,” he explained.

Bhandari said the fire at the Haldia plant, which occurred around six weeks ago, temporarily affected the usual supply route. Since then, LPG destined for Nepal has been sourced through alternative plants and transport routes, primarily via Odisha, requiring logistical adjustments but without interrupting overall supply.

He urged households to avoid unnecessary hoarding, noting that a single LPG cylinder typically lasts for weeks, while many families now also use induction cooktops, reducing their dependence on cooking gas.

The spokesperson also called on media outlets to disseminate accurate information to prevent unnecessary panic among consumers.

According to Salt Trading, consumers purchasing LPG based on actual household needs, rather than fear-driven stockpiling, will help prevent any artificial shortages in the market and ensure a smooth distribution of cooking gas across the country.