The Nepal LPG Industry Association has expanded a temporary cooking gas exchange scheme in Kathmandu Valley from six centers to 11. It aims to make gas easier to find during the Dashain festival. The expanded service began today, October 12,2026.
Under the scheme, a household can swap an empty cylinder of one brand for a filled cylinder of another brand without paying an extra exchange fee. People still pay the prescribed price for the filled cylinder.
The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) lists the price of a standard 14.2-kg cylinder at Rs 2,060.
The service runs at the designated centers until October 16, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. It is arranged with the NOC and the Gas Dealers Federation. Not every neighborhood shop takes part.
Five locations were added: Chapali in Budhanilkantha, Harisiddhi in Lalitpur, Kalanki, Khasibazar and Satungal.
The full list reported on October 12, with the brands available, is:
- Sifalchaur, Gas and Oxygen Traders: Everest, Sugam
- Pepsicola: Sagar
- In front of Balaju Industrial Area gate: Nepal, HP, Geeta, Rajdhani, Triveni
- Sukedhara: Baba, Shree
- Kalanki, Shree Krishna facility: Sai Baba, Shree Krishna
- Harisiddhi, Lalitpur, Shriram facility: Shriram
- Chapali, Budhanilkantha: Bhanu
- Harisiddhi, Lalitpur, additional facility: Nepal, HP
- Kalanki, additional facility: Geeta
- Khasibazar, RK Traders: Sitashree
- Satungal: Shrimaya
Why was it needed?
Companies usually fill only their own cylinders. As a result, people are sometimes turned away even when filled cylinders were available, because their empty cylinder belongs to another firm. In September, reports showed households refused gas for this reason. Industry representatives cited legal, technical and insurance worries about swapping cylinders owned by different companies. They said consumers had been paying up to Rs 300 extra for cross-brand swaps.
NOC Executive Director Nagendra Sah said the aim is to help households, especially those with only one cylinder, get gas without hunting their own brand.
Some customers said certain centers were still exchanging only selected brands on the first day. This does raie concerns and doubts about whether all centers follow the rule and whether people can get gas without repeat trips or long waits.
The scheme is due to end on October 16.
