KATHMANDU, Oct 7: Following India"s failure to supply petroleum products to Nepal since the last two weeks, Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) for the first time in history is opening bids to international fuel companies to supply petroleum products to Nepal.
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A board meeting of NOC on Wednesday evening decided to issue a public notice soon calling for bids from international fuel suppliers, a source at the state oil monopoly told Republica requesting anonymity.
Despite two decades of commercial association and agreement with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) -- the sole petroleum supplier to the NOC -- it has failed to supply fuel to Nepal citing security reasons since the last 10 days.
Reeling under acute shortage of petroleum products, Nepal has been left with no option other than to open bids after the IOC"s reluctance to supply fuel that has not resulted in paralyzed lives but has also crippled the economy.
“As IOC has left us with no option, the NOC is expected to select the supplier of petroleum products to Nepal through the bidding process,” the source added.
Following the unofficial Indian-imposed economic blockade, the IOC has also refused to supply fuel -- including cooking gas -- to Nepali tankers and bullets.
Moreover, Indian customs officials have also blocked loaded fuel tankers from entering Nepal.
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