Petrol supply situation worsens in Nepali capital

The supply of petrol went worse in the Nepali capital Kathmandu Valley on Tuesday, as Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) and petroleum dealers failed to manage the increased demand.

"NOC, a government-own main supplier, pumped in 200,000 liters of petrol in the market on Monday, which was some 80 percent higher than the normal supply, to bring the situation under control," Umesh Dahal, acting deputy executive director of NOC, told reporters.

But that was distributed among just 50 of the 114 refilling stations operating in the city, he added.

"Some 55 percent of dealers closed their petrol refilling pumps, as they are yet to receive fresh supply from NOC," said Shiva Prasad Ghimire, president of Nepal Petroleum Dealers Association, a non-governmental organization.

"No petrol" signs were tagged at a large number of petrol refilling stations, meanwhile, there was increased panic among consumers, which triggered the increased demand and worsened supply situation further on Monday and Tuesday.

The supply of petrol in the valley has deteriorated from last Friday, as NOC did not distribute petroleum products on Wednesday and Thursday, which were public holidays. Closure of supply on Saturday, the weekend, added to the crisis.

"But the situation worsened from Monday afternoon as most of the dealers' stock of Sunday was used up and waited in queue to receive new supply," Ghimire said.

The supply of diesel and kerosene, however, remained normal in the valley.

Source: Xinhua