Nepal introduces two-day weekend to cut fuel consumption amid supply concerns

The Government of Nepal has decided to grant a two-day public holiday each week on Saturdays and Sundays for government offices and educational institutions, citing disruptions in petroleum supply and rising fuel costs.

The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting held on Sunday and will come into effect from Monday, according to government spokesperson and Minister for Education, Science and Technology and Youth and Sports, Sasmita Pokharel.

Under the new arrangement, office hours for government institutions except educational bodies will run from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Fuel crisis behind the decision

Officials say the move is aimed at reducing fuel consumption as global supply chains face disruption due to ongoing tensions in West Asia. The rise in international crude oil prices has already impacted Nepal, where fuel prices have surged.

Petrol is currently priced at Rs202 per litre, while diesel and kerosene cost Rs182 per litre.

The state-owned Nepal Oil Corporation has also suggested introducing an odd-even vehicle system for both public and private vehicles except for essential services as an additional measure to reduce fuel use.

Expected impact on fuel consumption

According to officials, the two-day weekend could reduce fuel consumption by around 10%. Nepal currently consumes approximately:

2.5 million litres of petrol daily
5 million litres of diesel daily
45,000 tonnes of cooking gas

A 10% reduction would save an estimated 750,000 litres of fuel per day.

The corporation estimates that Nepal spends around Rs1.4 billion daily on fuel, including Rs903.7 million on diesel and Rs501.8 million on petrol.

Executive Director Chandika Bhatt said the decision may not bring a dramatic reduction but should be viewed positively as part of broader efforts to conserve fuel.

He added that a stricter odd-even system for vehicles could lead to more significant savings.

Public urged to cooperate

Manoj Thakur urged the public to support the initiative by limiting unnecessary travel.

“People should not treat the extra holiday as an opportunity to travel. The main goal is to reduce fuel consumption,” he said.

Diesel is widely used in transportation, public buses and construction, while petrol is primarily used in private vehicles such as motorcycles and cars including most government vehicles.

Education sector adjustments

As the current academic year comes to an end, the government has also decided to begin the new academic session only after mid-April (Baisakh 15). Some private schools had earlier planned to start earlier.

Previous attempts and challenges

This is not the first time Nepal has introduced a two-day weekend. A similar decision was implemented in April 2022 to address declining foreign exchange reserves and a growing balance of payments deficit. However, the policy lasted only about a month after facing criticism for being impractical.

Earlier, during the tenure of former Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, a two-day weekend was introduced in 1999 but remained in place for only two years.

Experts stress effective implementation

Former Chief Secretary Bimal Koirala said the policy would only succeed if properly enforced.

“It is not enough to declare holidays. The government should also set limits on fuel consumption per person,” he said, suggesting rationing measures.

He also argued that public service delivery would not be affected, as offices would still operate for 40 hours a week under the revised schedule.