Fuel shortage deepens

KATHMANDU, Dec 28: Shortage of petroleum products deepened in the market on Wednesday after Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), citing fund crisis and low import, distributed fuel to the petrol pumps operated by the security agencies and Sajha cooperatives only.



NOC distributed only 152 KL of diesel and 80 KL of petrol in the Kathmandu valley. The volume supplied was far less than the normal daily demand for both products. According to NOC, normal daily demand of diesel is around 450 KL and of petrol 400 KL.[break]



“We could release less fuel because we have very low stock of petrol and diesel at the Thankot depot, the main distribution point for the valley,” said Mohan Karki, chief of NOC´s Thankot depot.



He said the depot has been receiving less fuel over the past one week mainly because NOC failed to pay enough to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to receive sufficient supply. Sources at the corporation said the situation of stock in all its depots is no better.



Major petroleum products, including petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), has been on a short supply over the last couple of days mainly after the NOC tightened supply amid low imports. “Sadly, over 100 refilling stations have gone dry after NOC failed to supply the petroleum products to these outlets. Hence, most of them remained closed dangling ´no petrol´, ´no diesel´ signs,” said Saroj Pandey, president of Nepal Petroleum Dealers Association (NPDA).



Of the total supply made on the day, NOC issued all 80 KL of petrol to refilling stations run by army, police, armed police force and Sajha cooperatives. Likewise, of the total diesel distributed on the day, the corporation issued 36 KL of diesel to different industries and the rest was distributed among the refilling stations of army, police, Armed Police Force and Sajha cooperatives.



NOC officials denied the allegation that they intentionally did not release fuel to private dealers. “Actually, we had called them to take the supply. But as the volume we proposed to release them was low, they refused to take the supply,” said Karki.



Pandey confirmed Karki´s statement. “NOC wanted us to take a few thousand liters of petrol and diesel. But we refused to take as it will neither ease the supply nor make the life easier for the dealers,” said Pandey.

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