KATHMANDU, Jan 23: With the parliamentary elections around the corner, Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is bracing for a significant surge in fuel demand. Officials estimate that consumption of petroleum products, including petrol and diesel, could rise by as much as 25 percent within just ten days of the election period.
Just as festive seasons lead to higher fuel usage across the country, elections—marked by extensive travel of political leaders, campaign rallies, and public gatherings—also create a sudden spike in consumption of petroleum products. Anticipating this, NOC has already initiated preparations to ensure smooth fuel supply throughout the electoral process.
Chandika Prasad Bhatt, Managing Director of NOC, said that all depots across the country will be instructed to maintain sufficient stock levels. “Since some border points may remain closed for a few days during the elections, we need to ensure depots are fully stocked in advance,” Bhatta said.
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Currently, Nepal consumes an average of 20–25 million liters of petrol and 38–40 million liters of diesel per month. With elections approaching, this figure is expected to jump by roughly 20–25 percent, a surge the corporation plans to manage through careful stockpiling.
To cope with potential disruptions, especially at border crossings, NOC is mobilizing around 1,700–1,800 tanker trucks, ensuring that fuel is available even if transport is temporarily halted. Bhatta reassured the public that even if some borders are closed for a few days, there will be no shortage of fuel in the market. The corporation plans to finalize the exact logistics—how much fuel to bring from which border and how much to store—within the week.
Nepal Oil Corporation has long been responsible for ensuring uninterrupted supply of petroleum products in the country, importing petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, and cooking gas primarily from the Indian Oil Corporation. In recent years, the corporation has also developed mechanisms allowing fuel purchases via mobile payments at depots, improving accessibility.
Storage capacity has been a key focus. Just two years ago, NOC could store enough petrol for only 12 days and diesel for 8 days. Now, with newly constructed tanks in Amlekhgunj (four tanks of 14,000 KL each), and operational tanks in Pokhara (10,000 KL), as well as expanded facilities in Biratnagar and Nepalgunj, storage capacity has increased significantly. Currently, the NOC can store diesel for approximately 14 days and petrol for 12 days.
Pipeline infrastructure has also seen rapid development. The Motihari-Amlekhgunj pipeline is operational, delivering both diesel and petrol efficiently. Bhatta said that pipeline transport has reduced logistical challenges and costs, enabling a price reduction of around Rs 2 per liter for consumers. Plans are underway to extend pipelines further—from Amlekhgunj to Chitwan and from Silgadhi to Jhapa—which could reduce prices by an additional Rs 3.50 per liter within three years.
Even aviation fuel is expected to be managed via pipelines in the near future, potentially eliminating the need for tankers to travel to India for supply.
“Election periods require us to be extra vigilant,” Bhatta said, “With our expanded storage and pipeline network, we are confident of maintaining a steady supply of fuel, preventing shortages and ensuring that the market remains stable during these high-demand days.”
