NOC hike petro prices

The state fuel monopoly has increased the price of petroleum products including diesel, petrol and kerosene.

The price of fuel has been increased by Rs 3 per liter to take the retail price of diesel and kerosene at Rs 175 per liter and of petrol to Rs 178 per liter, confirmed a press note issued by the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC). 

The new price will come into effect from today midnight. The price of aviation fuel and LPG – popularly known as cooking gas – remains unchanged, the press note reads, adding that the price of petroleum products had to be increased due to the increase in the price of petroleum products in India.

A fortnight ago, when the petro price has come down, the state fuel monopoly did not recude the price but the price has been jacked up as soon as the price increased, showing double standard in price adjustment.

The NOC refused to reduce the fuel prices last fortnight, when the price has come down, citing its regular losses. Last year too, the NOC denied decreasing the fuel prices citing losses, though it repeatedly claims to have implemented automated pricing system.

Lawmakers urge to bring Petroleum Act

Lawmakers asked the government to bring the Petroleum Act immediately to also address the current petroleum price hike.

Participating in the discussion of a special proposal registered by the opposition chief whip Bishal Bhattarai, general secretary of the Nepali Congress (NC) and lawmaker Gagan Thapa requested the government to bring the Petroleum Act immediately in the current session of the House to make the fuel business transparent. Suggesting the government to make a petrol, diesel and LP gas free country within 10 years, he said that the government has reduced price of petrol and diesel by Rs 10 per liter but it is not enough. “People should be given relief by further reducing the petroleum price,” he said, asking the government to reduce the taxes levied on petroleum products.

The government monopoly Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) imports and distributes the fuel worth billions without the Petroleum Act, which has helped people doubt on the transparency. The government entities consume more than half the imports, and is suspected leakage on supply. The consumer rights activists have been long asking the government to bring the Petroleum Act to monitor and regulate the billion-rupee petroleum business. However, neither the incumbent government nor the past governments have any interest in bringing the Act.

Registering the special proposal at the House of Representatives today, CPN-UML chief whip Bishal Bhattarai, urged the government to reduce the prices of petroleum products. UML lawmakers also demanded a parliamentary probe committee to study the price increment of petroleum products.

UML lawmaker Yagya Raj Sunuwar also said that the public is suffering due to the hike in fuel prices. Suspecting the decision to hike prices of petroleum products of corruption, he asked it to be investigated by the parliamentary committee. He said that prices of petroleum products were hiked twice in a week contrary to the procedure laid down by the government.

Likewise, other lawmakers and members of UML demanded the government to further lower the prices of petroleum products in the domestic market.

The hike in petroleum prices will push the inflation up as fuel is the most important factor in price hike in the market. According to the central bank, the inflation has been recorded at 7.3 per cent in the nine months of the current fiscal year. The government – in its fiscal policy for the current fiscal year – and central bank – in its Monetary Policy for the current fiscal year, had targetted to keep the inflation under 6.5 per cent. But both the government and central bank failed to crack the whip on rising inflation also due to rising petroleum prices. The petroleum prices have been increasing in the world due to supply disruption and Russia-Ukraine war that seems to end no time sooner.

Nepal-India relationships rest on four pillars: Visiting Indian foreign secretary

 India’s relationship with Nepal rests on four pillars – development cooperation, stronger connectivity, expanded infrastructure and economic projects – according to visiting Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

Shringla, who is on a two-day official visit to Nepal, during a lecture on Nepal-India relations in Kathmandu today, also said stressing the need for strong cooperative relations between the two neighboring countries, he also said that his country sees Nepal as foremost friend and development partner. “India will work to Nepal's priority.”

He also highlighted easier and enhanced access to educational opportunities in India for the young people of Nepal. “India will work to Nepal’s priorities,” he said, adding that the structure that the pillars hold up is also well-defined and unchanging – mutually beneficial people-to-people contacts. And in all this technology, particularly digital technology, is to my mind a force multiplier. “Nepal is fundamental to India’s neighborhood-first policy apart from people-to-people linkages between the two countries are strong.”

“Enhancing cross-border connectivity and infrastructure projects are also critical,” he said, adding that they unlock potential of millions and in millions. “Connectivity projects come in various forms like physical connectivity projects such as highways, rail and air links and inland waterways enhance movement of goods and people, whereas energy connectivity – whether power transmission lines or petroleum pipelines – contribute to the well-being of each other’s citizens, and build mutual trust and partnerships.”

“Digital connectivity through optical fibre networks is our route to the future, particularly, and as we find in India, with remote access to education, healthcare and other services through the digital medium,” he said. “Finally, trade facilitation through upgraded border infrastructure makes for easier transit and seamless commerce.”

“India sees itself as Nepal’s natural and instinctive responder,” the Indian foreign secretary said, while referring to India's prompt response to devastating earthquake in Nepal in 2015 that claimed nearly 10,000 lives leaving thousands injured. “India will also share the Nobel coronavirus vaccines as soon as the vaccine once it is rolled out.”

Shringla arrived Kathmandu yesterday at the invitation of his counterpart Bharat Raj Paudyal. Earlier yesterday, he called on President Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali. Shringla also held a delegation-level meeting with foreign secretary Paudyal yesterday afternoon. “In my meetings here in Kathmandu, with the President and the Prime Minister of Nepal, the foreign minister, and my counterpart the foreign secretary, and other dignitaries and officials, I have been left with no doubt that our countries are on the same page and share the same vision,” he informed

He also reminded the high level meetings of the leaders from both the countries. “Our Prime Minister’s visit to Nepal in August 2014 was the first at that level in 17 years,” he said, adding that the visit injected a fresh energy into the relationship and created a steady stream of two-way travel and developmental initiatives. “Over the past six years, Prime Minister Modi has visited Nepal four times and the Prime Minister of Nepal has been welcomed in India seven times, apart from the leaders have met 16 times at the level of head of state or head of government.”

He also reminded the High Impact Community Development Projects, which according to him are tailored to the needs of the local community, create community assets, and promote socio-economic welfare at the grassroots level. “Such development projects have been implemented in all 77 of Nepal’s districts and over a hundred of them have been completed since 2014 when our Prime Minister visited Nepal for the first time when he took over.”

These programmes cover diverse sectors such as education, health, irrigation, drinking water, preservation of culture, skill development, youth training, and agriculture, and have immediate and positive impact on the lives of people, touching everybody in society, added the visiting guest. 

Before wrapping his two-day visit, Shringla today afternoon travelled to Gorkha and inaugurated three schools – Shree Mahalaxmi, Shree Ratnalaxmi and Shree Tara Secondary Schools – constructed with Indian reconstruction assistance. “There are about 1600 students in these three schools, who now have the advantage of the newly constructed earthquake resilient school buildings,” according to a press note from the Indian Embassy. “These schools are part of 71 educational institutes across nine districts being built under government of India grant assistance of $50 million for reconstruction in the education sector,” it reads, adding that the nine beneficiary districts are Gorkha, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchowk, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Kavrepalanchowk, Dhading and Kathmandu. 

Speaking on the occasion, Indian foreign secretary emphasised that education is the best investment in the future of the country and its people. Since 2003, government of India has built nearly 270 educational campuses across Nepal under High Impact Community Development Projects scheme, complementing the efforts of Nepal in this area. Shringla also encouraged Nepali students to take advantage of over 3000 scholarships being provided by government of India to contribute in the development of their country and to further strengthen India-Nepal partnership.

India is also working with Nepal on reconstruction of 147 health posts and hospitals in ten districts of Nepal under a grant of $ 50 million and 28 cultural heritage sites in 8 districts of Nepal under another grant of $ 50 million.

In his last engagement before leaving Nepal that also signifies the diverse bilateral development and cultural cooperation, foreign secretary Shringla virtually inaugurated the Tashop (Tare) Gompa monastery constructed at Shree Kharka village in Manang district, the press note reads, adding that the event was also attended by secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yadav Prasad Koirala, acharya Lama Norbu Sherpa, president of Nepal Buddhist Federation along with the representatives of Khangsar Sewa Samiti.

After completing his two-day official visit, foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla returned to New Delhi in the late afternoon today, the press note reads.

Projects under Indian assistance

• The Motihari–Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline was the first of its kind in the region. It has created capacity to carry two million metric tonnes of petroleum products into Nepal, and has already led to savings of over Rs 800 million for the people of this country. 

• Brisk implementation of the 900 MW Arun III hydropower power project is underway, and cross-border power transmission lines have been upgraded

• The Jayanagar-Kurtha cross-border rail line should be operational shortly. It will make Janakpur so much quicker to visit from India. Tourism from India would be an important area of employment, commerce and opportunity. We want to promote it to the extent that we can.

• The modern integrated check-posts (ICP) at Birgunj and Biratnagar have transformed cross-border movement of people and goods, and work on the integrated check-posts at Nepalgunj has commenced

• After the earthquake of 2015, India cooperated with Nepal in the restoration of 30 heritage locations, including the iconic Seto Machindranath temple in Kathmandu, the Hiranyavarna Mahavihar at Patan, and the Jangam Matha at Bhaktapur. Our best domain specialists are at the service of the living history of Nepal.

• Given the young population – both in India and Nepal – education is a crucial bridge. Seventy schools and 150 health facilities are coming up in 12 districts of Nepal with Indian support. 

• The outlay of Indian earthquake-related assistance is US$ 1 billion but its true value is not in monetary terms. It lies in how it has helped communities on the ground. To cite an instance, 46,000 houses have been built in Gorkha and Nuwakot. They incorporate earthquake-resilient technologies in line with the motto of ‘Build Back Better’, and they epitomise humanity’s ability to triumph over adversity.

PM Oli, Modi to inaugurate oil pipeline tomorrow

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the first cross-border petroleum pipeline in South Asia tomorrow through video conference.
According to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS), the formal inauguration will be marked by pressing a switch button via remote control by the executive heads of both countries through a live video conference connected simultaneously in between the Prime Minister’s Office at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu and Office of the Indian Prime Minister in New Delhi.
“The two heads of states are scheduled to press the pipeline switch that opens the valve of the petroleum pipeline at the presence of high-level government dignitaries of both countries at the conference,” informed NOC deputy executive director Sushil Bhattarai.
The Amlekhgunj-based oil depot of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) and Motihari-based depot of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) will witness the official ceremony of inauguration on the ground by handing over a bottle of diesel from the pipeline among the officers of the IOC and NOC.
The NOC and IOC had successfully concluded the ‘testing transfer’ of the Motihari-Amlekhgunj pipeline project last month. The IOC – through its refinery in Motihari – had supplied diesel to NOC’s Amlekhgunj-based depot last month during the testing transfer. However, NOC had unloaded only 1,000 kilolitres of the 3,100 kilolitres of diesel supplied by IOC via the pipeline to test the newly constructed tanks at Amlekhgunj.
According to the NOC, the pipeline is able to supply 394 kilolitres of petroleum products per hour. “In the initial phase, NOC plans to receive only diesel, which is about the 70 per cent of total petroleum product imports, through the pipeline,” the NOC informed, adding that some 3,000 kilolitres of diesel will be imported per day through the pipeline, after the pipeline is formally inaugurated.
Though, the Motihari-Amlekhgunj oil pipeline was first proposed in 1996, it finally took off during Indian Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Kathmandu in 2014. The two governments inked an agreement to construct the first cross border pipeline – that is expected to reduce the cost of transportation of petroleum products worth Rs 1 billion – in the South Asia in August 2015. But, the project construction was again delayed due to devastating earthquake of 2015. “After the commercial operation of the pipeline, it will bring down fuel price by at least Re 1 per litre in the domestic market,” according to the NOC.

Cross border petro pipeline to open from next month

The first cross border petroleum pipeline in South Asia will start commercial operation by the first week of August following virtual inauguration of the Nepal-India bilateral project by the heads of the states.
The Motihari-Amlekhgunj oil pipeline project has been completed and is awaiting its formal inauguration by the Prime Ministers of Nepal KP Sharma Oli and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, according to the state oil monopoly. “The two Prime Ministers will officially open the fuel trade via the pipeline through the remote control, though the date for the official inauguration is yet to be fixed.”
Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the two governments are working to ensure that inauguration of the project takes place in the first week of August. “The virtual inauguration of the project will be done through video conferencing, where the two prime ministers will press a button in New Delhi and Kathmandu, resulting in opening of the valve of the petroleum pipeline,” the petroleum monopoly informed.
First proposed in 1996, the Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline memorandum of understanding was signed with Nepal Oil Corporation at the junior executive level a year later. In 2004, the two sides upgraded the agreement to the chief executive level. However, due to a number of legal hurdles, the project failed to take off. The project finally moved closer to reality during Indian PM Modi’s visit to Kathmandu in 2014. The then supply minister Sunil Bahadur Thapa and Indian state minister for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan signed an agreement on August 24, 2015 on constructing the Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline within 30 months, though the project was delayed due to devastating earthquake. But still Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline is the only mega project completed in time, apart from being the bilateral project completed in time.
“The NOC and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) today successfully tested the Motihari-Amlekhguni pipeline project,” the NOC said, adding that the IOC – through its refinery in Motihari – had supplied diesel to NOC’s Amlekhgunj-based depot yesterday, and received it today. “However, NOC will unload only 1,000 kilolitres of the 3,100-kilolitre diesel supplied by IOC via the pipeline to test the newly constructed tanks at Amlekhgunj.”
Though the project was estimated to cost Rs 2.75 billion Indian Currency (IC) with Indian government injecting Rs 2 billion IC and Rs 750 million IC by NOC and the remaining Indian grants, the final project cost escalated to almost Rs 3.25 billion IC. “The 69.2-km-long pipeline was completed with the budget of Rs 5.18 billion,” the NOC added. Of the Motihari- Amlekhgunj pipeline’s total length, 36.2 km lies within Nepali territory. The fuel pumping facilities will be located in Motihari, India. It is estimated that 300 kilolitres to 350 kiloliters of diesel can be supplied through the pipeline per hour.
The cross border petro pipeline is going to save NOC’s around Rs 2 billion – in transportation and ensure smooth supply of diesel, even during the strikes in Terai – helping it to bring down the petroleum price in the domestic market.
Under the first phase of the project, a pipeline will be laid from Raxaul to Amlekhgunj. In the second phase, it will be extended to Kathmandu.
Though some of the energy experts claim that the cross border pipeline will make Nepal further dependent on India because Nepal has to deal with a single company, officials say the pipeline will be a boon for the country, not only in reducing transportation costs and eliminating the hassles of hiring tanker trucks but also running operation during strikes that often hamper petroleum imports through the Indian border. “Most importantly, the pipeline will end fuel adulteration,” the NOC claimed, adding that fuel adulteration is a major problem. “The Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology reports revealed that the diesel sold in the valley is heavily adulterated.”

Chinese technical team to conduct petroleum exploration work in Nepal

China is going to conduct petroleum survey in Nepal from next week.
A team of Chinese geological survey experts, who have arrived in Nepal yesterday will examine the potential of petroleum extraction. They are going to conduct geological and petroleum survey to identify spots for drilling works to identify the type and quantity of petroleum reserve in Nepal from June 28, according to the Department of Mines and Geology. “A technical team from China Geological Survey has arrived Nepal yesterday for the petroleum exploration according to the agreement signed between the two countries on February 28 this year in Beijing,” the department said, adding that the Chinese team will visit two locations – Dailekh in western Karnali Province and Tansen in Province 5 – to conduct the technical study as a part of exploration work.
Dailekh and Tansen were among the 10 locations where a joint technical team from Nepal and China had conducted a feasibility study on exploration petroleum products in May 2016.
On August 17, 2017, Nepal and China had formally agreed on exploring petroleum products in Nepal. Likewise, in April 2018, a team from China Geological Survey had observed and conducted a feasibility study in Surkhet, Dailekh and Palpa districts and also in the Chatara-Barahachhetra area of Sunsari district. The government had earlier separated 10 blocks – Dhangadhi, Karnali, Nepalgunj, Lumbini, Chitwan, Birgunj, Malangwa, Janakpur, Rajbiraj and Biratnagar – for exploration of petroleum products in Nepal.
The Cabinet meeting on January 13 had approved a proposal titled ‘Implementation Agreements of China on Oil and Gas Resources Survey Projects in Nepal’ with China. The agreement subsequently paved the way to begin exploration works for petroleum products in the country.
Then, in February, the Department of Mines and Geology had signed an agreement with China Geological Survey – considered as one of the excellent oil mining institutions in the world – to carry out the examination within next three years. “The Chinese experts will divide themselves into three groups to conduct the geological and petroleum survey in both locations – Dailekh and Tansen – and identify the drilling spots,” the department confirmed. “Finding drilling spot is an important part of exploring the petroleum reserves in Nepal as there have been talks of having petroleum resources in Nepal.”
As per the initial study, the team needs to drill to a depth of at least four kilometres to locate any petroleum reserves. However, it has yet to finalise the exact place for the drilling.
After the identification of the spots by the Chinese team, the drilling works will be conducted in the second phase and the type and quantity of petroleum products will be identified in a report to be submitted in the third phase. “The task will be completed in three years and China will cover all costs of the examination,” according to the agreement between the two neighbours.
Nepal's economic growth will get a huge boost, if the commercially viable petroleum products are identified during the drilling.

Nepal-India cross border pipeline nears ready for operation

Laying of Nepal-India cross border pipeline – connecting Motihari in India to Amlekhgunj in Nepal – is finally coming to an end.
The South Asia's first cross border petroleum pipeline that covers a distance of 70.2-km will have to tested before it starts flowing diesel, which will save around Rs 2 billion of transportation cost apart from ensuring the smooth flow of diesel even in the times of unrest in the southern plains.
Estimated to cost around Rs 2.75 billion, the petroleum pipeline covers a distance of 32.65-km from Motihri to Raxaul on the Indian side was completed a month ago, and the task of laying pipeline for a distance of 37.25-km from Raxaul to Amlekhgunj of Bara on the Nepal side is also over, according to the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC). “The pipeline's technical examination – including hydro-test, radiography of pipes joined by welding, taking X-ray at the points where the pipes have been joined and removing the rust in the pipe through scan-plast have started with the completion of the pipeline laying works – is underway,” it informed, adding that a 25-member technical team, including NOC engineers, has left for Lucknow for training on hydro-test and other technical works of the pipeline. The sole supplier of the petroleum products to Nepal Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is providing training to the technicians to make them capable to take care of the petroleum pipeline.
After signing an agreement to lay the pipeline on August 24, 2015, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during Oli's India visit jointly laid the foundation stone for Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline project at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

Petroleum pipeline nears completion

Construction of Motihari-Amlekhgunj fuel pipeline nears completion as 99 per cent of the pipe-laying process has been completed.
According to Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), around 99 per cent of the installation of petroleum pipeline on the Motihari-Amlekhgunj has been completed. “The pipe laying process of 36.6-kilometre on Nepal side has been completed,” the fuel monopoly said, adding that Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) – which is the project developer – has already completed laying pipes along 32.7-km within the Indian territory. “Petroleum products from India will be imported to Nepal via the 78-km pipeline under the project, which is the first cross-border project in the entire South Asia.”
Though, the project is estimated to come into operation from mid-April, the launch date has been rescheduled for mid-July. A total of 25 Nepali technicians are currently in India to receive an eight-day training that IOC is providing to handle the project. “After the training of technicians concludes, the pipeline’s ownership will be handed over to Nepal.”
The project – with a total cost of over INR 2 billio – is expected to reduce the annual cost of importing petroleum products from India to Nepal by road by Rs 2 billion. NOC plans to further expand the petroleum pipeline up to Lothar in Chitwan, the fuel monopoly added.

Nepal Oil Corporation hikes petro-prices

Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has hiked the price of petrol, diesel and kerosene by Rs 2 per litre each to be effective from Saturday midnight.
With the revision in fuel price, petrol now costs Rs110 per litre and diesel and kerosene each costs Rs 97 per litre.
With the latest revision, the state-oil monopoly is expected to earn a profit of Rs 1.16 billion in 15 days, as the price in the international market is going down.
The price of aviation fuel and LPG – popularly known as cooking gas – has not been changed, according to the NOC, which has claimed that the fuel price was adjusted as per the new price list sent by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the sole supplier of the petroleum products for NOC.

Aviation fuel for domestic airlines reduced by Rs 10

The state fuel monopoly has slashed the price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for the domestic airlines by Rs.10 per liter.
Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) new price – with the new adjustment – will be effective from tonight. "With the revised price, now the aviation fuel for the domestic airlines costs Rs 94.50 per liter," NOC deputy executive director Sushil Bhattarai said.
Likewise, minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Matrika Yadav – speaking at the 49th annual day of the NOC – today also claimed that the revised price will make the people from rural areas comfortable with the airfare.
With the fall in ATF price for the domestic airliners, the domestic airfare is also going to come down.
The state fuel monopoly had been selling the aviation fuel at Rs 104. 50 per litre.
Earlier on January 2, the NOC had slashed the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene by Rs 2 as the price of the fuel in the international market has come down.

Fuel prices to come down further

Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has reduced the price of petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre.
The state-owned fuel monopoly has revised prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene downwards by Rs 2 per litre, according to the spokesperson of the NOC Birendra Goit. He said that the new price will be effective from tonight.
"Following the price cut, petrol will now cost Rs108 per litre, while diesel and kerosene will cost Rs 97 per litre each," he said, adding that the NOC has, however, not revised the price of aviation fuel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas.
The NOC attributed the drop in price to falling fuel prices in the international market.
Earlier on December 3, the NOC had slashed the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene by Rs 2 per litre. NOC has already reduced fuel price twice in the last one month – on December 3 and 18 –owing to fall in price in the international market. NOC has adopted automatic pricing system to adjust price of petroleum products according to the international price, and adjust the price fortnightly.
The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) – the only supplier of fuel to NOC – has reduced fuel prices for NOC for the first half of January. The fuel prices are likely to go down further in the domestic market owing to the constant fall in their prices in the international market.
The global crude oil price has been constantly falling since the last two months. Though average price of crude oil was above $70 per barrel in October, its price has dropped to almost $53 per barrel at present.
Though NOC had been incurring a monthly loss of over Rs 1 billion a month ago, but after the price adjustment, the corporation currently books monthly profit of more than Rs 1.5 billion.

NOC enforces quota for fuel

Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has started rationing of fuel citing depleting stock due to inadequate supply of petroleum products. The quota refueling system effective from today is expected to address the demand for fuel.
The state oil monopoly has directed the fuel stations to refuel motorcycles and scooters with 5 litres of petrol per vehicle, while light weight vehicles, cars and vans will be refueled with maximum of 15 litres of fuel at a time.
Likewise, vehicles plying short distances will get 50 litres of diesel and vehicles covering long distance will get a maximum of 100 litres, according to the NOC that has also directed the petrol pumps to keep ambulances, school buses and government vehicles on priority and refuel them accordingly.
According to NOC spokesperson Birendra Goit, the Nepal Petroleum Dealers' Association (NPDA) – the apex body of private petrol pumps – and Bagmati Petroleum Dealers’ Association (BPDA) have been requested to distribute the fuel based on the quota system.
Petrol pumps across the country have been facing shortage of petroleum products as fuel tanker operators started halting fuel supply from last two days, expressing solidarity with the protest of transporters, who are against a few transport-related provisions in the recently enacted Criminal Code.
A group of transport entrepreneurs, especially those operating tankers, have been staging protest since Tuesday against provisions including 10-year imprisonment for accidents and life imprisonment for causing death in the penal code.
As Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has limited stock of fuel – some 45,000 kilolitres of petrol and diesel, which is sufficient for less than a week, the protest by transport entrepreneurs if prolonged, the fuel supply situation will deteriorate further.
Most of the private petrol pumps were shut, while fuel stations run by Sajha and security forces saw serpentine queues.

House panel team to carry out onsite monitoring of land purchased by NOC

After increased controversy, the Industry, Commerce and Consumer Welfare Committee – under the Legislature-Parliament – has decided to carry out an onsite visit of the land purchased by Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) for petroleum storage in four districts.
Committee chair Bhishmaraj Angdembe in today's meeting said that a group of lawmakers including those elected from Jhapa, Sarlahi, Chitwan and Rupandehi districts will be sent for the onsite monitoring. "The groups will collect real facts by holding discussion with representatives of concerned offices, people's representatives of local-level and locals of the area, where the NOC had purchased the land, of the four districts," he added.
On the occasion, Lawmakers Subas Chandra Thakuri, Bhesh Kumari Raut, Krishna Prasad Poudel, Shambhu Lal Shrestha, Deepak Karki and Shyam Kumar Shrestha stressed the need of carrying out comprehensive probe into the land purchase scandal.