Trashigang district has been without the supply of refilled commercial Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders for almost four months now. Facing the shortage of commercial gas cylinders, restaurant owners and hoteliers in the region has now switched to non-subsidised LPG cylinders.
Introducing the commercial gas cylinders in the district in 2017, the use of commercial gas cylinders was made mandatory for all hoteliers and restaurateurs for commercial purposes. While doing so, they surrendered their domestic LPG cylinders.
However today, with no supply of commercial LPG in the region and most of their subsidised gas cylinders surrendered, restaurant owners and hoteliers have been using the green gas (non-subsidised) for their businesses since the beginning of the year.
To make matters worst, the only gas cylinder agent, based in Trashigang closed down recently failing to meet the expenses concerning the supply of commercial gas cylinders.
“We have brought and used commercial gas cylinders in our restaurants as asked by the trade office here. But it has been around three months now without the supply of commercial gas cylinders. Moreover, we also don’t have a gas-distributing agent here in Trashigang. Facing acute shortage in the supply of gas cylinders we requested the trade office for its support. As such we are using green gas for our businesses. If we can get the commercial gas cylinders, we will continue to use it as earlier,” said Kamala Rasaily, one of the restaurant owners in Trashigang.
“Some have purchased more than nine to ten numbers of commercial gas cylinders while some have only brought one to two. And considering the current situation, if we don’t get back the cylinders that we surrendered then we are at a loss. Without gas cylinders, we don’t have any other option like using the oven and electric system. It will be a difficult task,” said Dorji Wangchuk, another restaurant owner.
For now, the Regional Office under the Economic Affairs Ministry, Monggar, has facilitated the supply of non-subsidised gas cylinders as a temporary measure until the commercial gas cylinders are made available.
The office has even informed the head office of the Bhutan Industrial Gas (BIG), to stock up and help supply commercial LPG cylinders as soon as possible.
On the Other hand, the Bhutan Industrial Gas company says they have not been able to find an agent for the district since the business is not very profitable. They added they have requested the government to approve their plans to slightly increase the rates for refilling the BIG cylinders.
There are around 65 hotels and restaurants in Trashigang. And all they can do for now is hope the new supply arrives before their current stock runs out completely.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
