Stating that supply of petroleum products from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is increasing with every passing day after the blockade was lifted, Ministry of Supplies (MoS), on Monday, took the decision to this effect.
The decision means consumers will get diesel and petrol as per their demand. Similarly, LP gas bottlers will resume circulation of full cylinders (14.2 kg).
In a bid to address crippling shortage of petroleum products in the Nepali market due to Tarai unrest and Indian blockade, the government had introduced fuel rationing on September 27 last year. Similarly, it had directed LP gas bottlers to circulate half-filled cylinders (7.1 kg) on October 29.
As per the decision, petrol pumps had provided consumers 5 liters of petrol for two-wheelers and 15 liters for four-wheelers.
“We have ended quota system in distribution of petroleum products. The decision will come into effect from Monday itself,” Deepak Subedi, spokesperson of MoS, said, adding, “We have allowed gas bottlers to circulate full cylinders and also directed Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) as well as petrol pumps to distribute fuel as per the demand of the consumers.”
Subedi further said fuel rationing was lifted as supply from India is increasing. “We are currently receiving 70 percent of the demand. The quantum of supply is on the rise,” added Subedi.
According to NOC, normal daily demand of petrol and diesel stands at around 1,100 KL and 2,700 KL, respectively. Similarly, daily demand for LPG is around 1,200 tons. NOC has been distributing 450 KL of petrol and 500 KL of diesel in the Kathmandu Valley every day which is higher than the demand of 350KL of petrol and 450KL of diesel on normal days.
IOC is loading 45 gas bullets a day, compared to 60 bullets before the blockade.
Sushil Bhattarai, deputy executive director of NOC, said it would be difficult to normalize supply of petroleum products in Kathmandu Valley unless IOC raises supply from Raxaul depot. According to him, IOC is supplying only around 70 percent of the demand placed by NOC from Raxaul depot.
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