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Nepal Shifts to Two-Day Weekend Amid Fuel Crisis, Pushes Electric Vehicles

The Nepali government has declared a two-day weekend, closing offices and schools on Sundays starting April 6 to mitigate an acute fuel supply crisis. This decision, announced by spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel, comes as petrol prices soar to a historic NPR 202 per litre following multiple recent hikes. The Cabinet is also preparing a legal framework to support converting petrol and diesel vehicles into electric ones to address shortages and promote cleaner transport. The crisis is driven by global supply disruptions from the West Asia conflict, causing the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation to incur heavy losses despite the price increases.

Key Points: Nepal's Two-Day Weekend Due to Fuel Crisis, EV Push

  • New Saturday-Sunday public holiday
  • Petrol hits record NPR 202/litre
  • Push for petrol/diesel to EV conversion
  • Fuel crisis from West Asia conflict
  • NOC reports massive fortnightly losses
3 min read

Nepal introduces two-day weekend holidays in wake of fuel crisis

Nepal implements Saturday-Sunday holidays to ease fuel crisis, hikes petrol to record NPR 202/litre, and promotes electric vehicle conversion.

"the move to close offices and schools on Sundays was prompted by ongoing disruptions in petroleum supplies - Sasmit Pokharel"

Kathmandu, April 5

The Government of Nepal on Sunday decided to implement a two-day public holiday--Saturday and Sunday--in response to the ongoing fuel crisis linked to prolonged conflict in West Asia, which has caused major disruption to the global energy trade due to the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the Council of Ministers held at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kathmandu.

Government offices and all educational institutions will observe the new weekend schedule starting April 6 to help facilitate petroleum supply, government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel said.

Pokharel stated that the move to close offices and schools on Sundays was prompted by ongoing disruptions in petroleum supplies and added that government offices, excluding educational institutions, will now operate from 9 am to 5 pm on working days.

The Cabinet has also decided to prepare the necessary legal framework to support the conversion of petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles into electric vehicles.

According to the spokesperson, the decision was taken as fuel supply has become increasingly uncertain due to escalating conflict in West Asia.

The government believes that promoting the conversion of petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles into electric ones could help address potential fuel shortages while supporting the country's transition toward cleaner transportation.

The ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States has disrupted global petroleum supply, contributing to shortages and a sharp rise in fuel prices in Nepal.

Petroleum prices in Nepal have reached an all-time high, with the latest revision by the state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) pushing petrol prices to NPR 202 per litre in the Kathmandu Valley. Diesel and kerosene prices have also increased to NPR 182 per litre.

The decision follows a meeting of the NOC's board of directors last week, which approved an NPR 15 per litre hike for petrol, diesel, and kerosene. This marks the third price increase in just 18 days, following hikes on March 15 and March 25.

Petrol prices in Nepal have now surpassed the previous record set in June 2022, when petrol reached NPR 199 per litre and diesel NPR 192 per litre.

After fluctuating over the years, petrol prices had dropped to NPR 156 per litre and diesel to NPR 137 per litre in January 2026.

Prices had previously surged during the Russia-Ukraine War, but the current increase marks an unprecedented peak.

Over the past 18 days alone, petrol prices have jumped by NPR 45 per litre, while diesel and kerosene have risen by NPR 40 per litre.

The price of aviation fuel for domestic flights has surged by NPR 124 per litre, while for international flights in Kathmandu it has reached USD 819 per kilolitre. With the revision, domestic aviation fuel prices increased from NPR 127 per litre to NPR 251 per litre.

Despite the latest adjustments, NOC reports losses of NPR 34.36 per litre on petrol, NPR 120.54 per litre on diesel, and NPR 416.37 per LPG cylinder, estimating fortnightly losses at NPR 11.71 billion. Prices are likely to rise further depending on international market trends.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Interesting move. While the long weekend might help with immediate fuel saving, the push for electric vehicle conversion is the more forward-thinking part of this policy. Many Indian cities are also struggling with pollution and fuel costs. Maybe there are lessons to be learned here about proactive policy during a crisis.
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Ananya R
The fuel prices are heartbreaking. NPR 45 increase in 18 days? 😳 Our own petrol is over ₹110 in many places. This global instability hits smaller economies the hardest. Solidarity with the people of Nepal. The government's step to protect supplies for essential services makes sense.
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Vikram M
A two-day holiday sounds nice on paper, but what about daily wage workers and the informal sector? They won't get paid for that extra day. The focus should be on securing alternative supply routes and long-term energy independence, not just shutting down the country for a day.
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Karthik V
The aviation fuel price hike is massive! This will make travel within Nepal very expensive for tourists and locals alike. Tourism is a major source of income for them. This crisis has so many ripple effects. Jai Nepal, hope you overcome this soon.
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Michael C
Reading this from a regional perspective. The Strait of Hormuz closure is a global problem. It shows how interconnected we all are. India and Nepal have strong ties; perhaps there's room for cooperative energy strategies or sharing best practices on EV infrastructure during this transition.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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