NOC supplying fuel to defunct pump

KATHMANDU, Feb 16:

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• Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) published a notice with a list of petrol pumps that would distribute fuel on Monday. According to the list, Sita Traders, a fuel pump in Khasi Bazaar, Bagbazaar, among other 89 petrol pumps in the list, would distribute 4,000 liters of petrol. But the petrol pump, Sita Traders, was shut down around a decade ago. Where does the petrol go?

• A star hotel in Kathmandu applied for 3,000 liters of diesel at the NOC. An official at the NOC suggested that the hotel apply for 10,000 liters of diesel, and the NOC would provide them 4,000 liters. The hotel happily applied for 10,000 liters of diesel and walked away with 4,000 liters of diesel. Where does the remaining 6,000 liters diesel go?

The answer is simple: NOC, the state petroleum monopoly, is involved neck deep in the black marketing of petroleum products. Despite the lifting of blockade by India and gradual restoration of the supply of petroleum products to the pre-blockade level since the last four days, the consumers are still made to queue up for hours to get fuel.

However, anyone willing to pay double the market price can easily get petrol.

It is obvious that a vast amount of petrol is being directed to black marketers. For example, the now defunct Sita Traders has been supplied with 4,000 liters of petrol and diesel each around a dozen times, all of which, presumably, flowed into the black market.

According to Nepal Oil Corporation spokesperson Mukunda Ghimire, there are some 2,200 fuel pumps in the country.

"Of the total, some 125 petrol pumps are in the Valley," Ghimire said, while showing reluctance to provide answers to more pointed questions regarding the supply of fuels to defunct pumps.

He said he would check an updated list and inform afterwards. However, he had switched off his mobile in the evening and all attempts to reach him failed.

The NOC's institutional involvement in black marketing is hardly a new thing.

According to National Human Rights Commission, the NOC, security agencies, and government officials are involved in the black marketing of petroleum products.

Meanwhile, the Office of The Prime Minister has written to the NOC to reduce the price of the fuel as the petroleum products' prices in the international market has dropped to around US$ 30 per barrel.