The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) announced a major reduction in the price of kerosene last week but shortages of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) continued despite assurances of increasing supply to ease the problem. On 14 October the government raised the prices of petroleum products, raising kerosene rates by 100 percent?from Rs13 to Rs 26 and fixing another rate for rationed fuel. Later, the government gave in to widespread protests and reduced the price to Rs 22. Kerosene is now available at Rs 17 a litre, while one-rupee reductions have been made in both petrol and diesel prices.