FNCCI demands diesel for Sunsari-Morang factories

KATHMANDU, April 20: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has urged Nepal Oil Corporation (IOC) to step up supply of diesel to the factories based in the Morang-Sunsari corridor saying that load-shedding has forced them to cut productions by up to 80 percent.



The factories based in the corridor are presently suffering up to 18 hours of load-shedding attributed to the maintenance of cross-border transmission line. This has forced the factories to drastically cut productions, inflicting losses worth millions of rupees. [break]



“It is unfortunate that the state has remained apathetic to the plight, even though that is causing huge losses to the economy,” said FNCCI, issuing a press statement. “We condemn this apathy and urge the government and NOC to immediately increase diesel supply to those factories, so that they could generate power themselves,” FNCCI has stressed.



While referring to the protracted power cuts which have compelled the factories to rely on energy produced from thermal plants and raised their cost of producting and eroded competitiveness, FNCCI has also asked the government to work out long-term solution to address the power shortage problem.



It has also asked the government to remain sensitive to industries´ needs and develop contingent plans so that industries do not have to suffer loss in production whenever such repair works are undertaken.



“If the government does not act responsibly, more industries could be forced to shut down operations,” FNCCI has warned.

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