The talks could not reach any conclusion as the petroleum entrepreneurs remained adamant on their demand for complete revocation of government´s recent decision to open up the petroleum business to the private sector.[break]
“The talks ended inconclusively as entrepreneurs refused hold talks on the points they find objectionable”, Lal Mani Joshi, secretary at MoCS said, adding, “They even refused to accept our proposal not to implement the order for the time being”.
The agitating petroleum entrepreneurs are scheduled to hold talks with Minister for Commerce and Supplies, Shankar Koirala this evening.
Monday’s talks between the MoCS and petroleum entrepreneurs had also ended inconclusively but the two sides had agreed to sit for further talks today.
The government had on Sunday invited petroleum entrepreneurs to talks after the latter protesting the government´s recent decision to open up the petroleum business to the private sector threatened to stall the supply of petroleum products across the country.
The government had brought the Petroleum and Gas Transactions Regulatory Order on March 13 that allows the private sector firms to set up petroleum refinery and import and distribute petroleum products. The order in effect ends the monopoly of the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC).
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