NOC, Tanker owners at loggerheads

The Petroleum Supply Entrepreneurs’ Organisation today warned of persisting with its ongoing stir.
Birendra Kumar Das, president, PSEO, who is camping in Hetauda, broke the news to mediapersons through mobile phone here today.
Das, who has apparently stepped down as president of PSEO, has been playing a dual role for a while. He is also the general manager of Janak Shikshya Samagri Kendra, a state body that publishes and distributes education materials. He owns 170 tankers.
The phase-out of old tankers is the bone of contention.Digambar Jha, general manager, Nepal Oil Corporation, however, stood his ground.
The NOC, he maintained, would carry on with its phase-out plan, open new depots in Birtamod and Janakpur and set up a much-needed laboratory. The sole petroleum supplier is also looking at opening mobile petrol pumps across the nation.
It may be recalled that PSEO had agreed to phase out tankers, which are older than 20 years, on February 25. It had also agreed to purchase 165 new ones.But, the matter came to a head last Sunday when the suppliers’ organisation suddenly did a U-turn, stopping distribution of petroleum products.
Unfazed, NOC has been distributing fuel from its Thankot depot since yesterday. Today, 57 fuel-laden tankers — 15 containing petrol, 34 diesel and eight kerosene — rolled into the Valley, whose daily consumption is pegged at 12 tankers of petrol, 24 of diesel and six of kerosene.
The fuel major has set the ball rolling for getting hold of new tankers as well. It put out anotice today, inviting 263 tanker owners to fill in the void.As of now, 120 entrepreneurs have evinced interest on the Raxaul-Kathmandu route. While, six are keen to supply to the airport depot.
PSEO members, meanwhile, are divided over the stir. “Around 578 tanker owners are ready to supply,” claimed Jha.Shiva Prasad Ghimire, ex-president, Nepal Petroleum Dealers’ Association NPDA), supported NOC’s move. He also urged the dealers and entrepreneurs to call off their strike. As the impasse continues, the consumers, like always, are bearing the brunt.
Meanwhile, labourers have queered the stir pitch. They are backing the suppliers’ stir.Lok Krishna Bhattarai, ex-GM, NOC, attributed the deadlock to the collapse of the state mechanism.
NOC boasts of a cumulative storage capacity of 71,742.3 kl of petroleum products, which last for 30 days. But, it can store 6,300 kl of diesel and kerosene each and 7,640 ATF in the capital.