Petro supply in Nepali capital to become normal after week-long strike
Thursday, 5 July 2007
KATHMANDU, July 4 (Xinhua): Petroleum supply in the Nepali capital Kathmandu Valley is to become normal by today evening, thanks to the resumption of transportation after a week- long strike.
More than 35 tankers carrying petroleum products entered the valley Wednesday, after the transport entrepreneurs called off the strike Tuesday evening, The Himalayan Times reported Wednesday.
"We immediately released the petroleum products as they reached the Thanko depot," said Ichha Bikram Thapa, spokesman for the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC).
The NOC released 111,000 liters of petrol, 155,000 liters of diesel and 120,000 liters of kerosene for the public and private pumps, he said.
More than 40 tankers carrying petroleum products have already left NOC depot at Amlekhgunj in Bara district in central Nepal, which are expected to arrive by Wednesday afternoon, Thapa said.
Lilendra Pradhan, treasurer of the Nepal Petroleum Dealers' Association, confirmed that the NOC released fuel to the private dealers also.
"Only 25 per cent out of the 114 pumps in the valley received petrol and diesel today (Tuesday)," he said.
Pradhan, however, feared that panic buying would continue till the NOC provided full supply to the private dealers. The private dealers meet more than 90 per cent of total fuel requirement in the valley.
The petroleum supply has been erratic for the last three months in the country, especially after unrest in the southern Nepal's Tarai region and due to the NOC's inability to pay the dues that it owes to the sole supplier - Indian Oil Corporation, which stands at 4.5 billion Nepali rupees (some 69.2 million U.S. dollars).
More than 35 tankers carrying petroleum products entered the valley Wednesday, after the transport entrepreneurs called off the strike Tuesday evening, The Himalayan Times reported Wednesday.
"We immediately released the petroleum products as they reached the Thanko depot," said Ichha Bikram Thapa, spokesman for the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC).
The NOC released 111,000 liters of petrol, 155,000 liters of diesel and 120,000 liters of kerosene for the public and private pumps, he said.
More than 40 tankers carrying petroleum products have already left NOC depot at Amlekhgunj in Bara district in central Nepal, which are expected to arrive by Wednesday afternoon, Thapa said.
Lilendra Pradhan, treasurer of the Nepal Petroleum Dealers' Association, confirmed that the NOC released fuel to the private dealers also.
"Only 25 per cent out of the 114 pumps in the valley received petrol and diesel today (Tuesday)," he said.
Pradhan, however, feared that panic buying would continue till the NOC provided full supply to the private dealers. The private dealers meet more than 90 per cent of total fuel requirement in the valley.
The petroleum supply has been erratic for the last three months in the country, especially after unrest in the southern Nepal's Tarai region and due to the NOC's inability to pay the dues that it owes to the sole supplier - Indian Oil Corporation, which stands at 4.5 billion Nepali rupees (some 69.2 million U.S. dollars).