Gasoline lines are back with frantic motorists forming long queues in front of the few petrol pumps that are still open as another shortage hits the Kathmandu Valley while Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) claims that “there is no short supply”.

In the last few days, hundreds of private gasoline stations in the valley have pulled down their shutters and hung up ‘No Petrol’ signs. Only those operated by the Nepal Police, Nepal Army and Sajha are still selling fuel.

The state-owned oil monopoly said there was a temporary disruption in the supply due to the occurrence of three consecutive holidays starting last Thursday.

“It’s a short-term supply disruption caused by public holidays,” said NOC Managing Director Gopal Bahadur Khadka. He added that they had distributed a small quantity of fuel during the public holidays.

NOC said that it had not been able to distribute fuel in sufficient quantities until last week due to the repair work being done to the oil tanks at its Thankot depot. “This led to a shortage in the market,” said Khadka.

However, he claimed that the supply had been increased. On Sunday and Monday, distribution had been boosted to 650 kilolitres and 700 kilolitres respectively from the normal quantity of 400 kilolitres, he added.

NOC said it had been supplying gasoline directly from its tankers due to the maintenance work at its depot. Khadka said that the fuel shortage could have appeared due to a strike announced by petrol pump workers.

According to him, gas station attendants have launched a strike demanding a raise. “We have summoned both the owners and employees for talks on Tuesday,” he said.

Gasoline shortages routinely occur in Kathmandu after long weekends and holidays when NOC closes down and less fuel is issued.

Lilendra Prasad Pradhan, president of the Nepal Petroleum Dealers’ Association, said that NOC had been supplying inadequate quantities of fuel during public holidays. “It has also failed to manage the distribution chain when it is engaged in maintenance work,” he said.

“Panic buying has also led to shortages,” said a petrol pump attendant at Trilochan Enterprise in Panipokhari. “We sold 12,000 litres of fuel in the last two days.”

On Monday, a joint market monitoring team of the government sealed Sajha Petrol Pump, Pulchok and Mahayana Petrol Pump, Kumaripati on the charge of giving short measure.

According to the Supply Ministry, Sajha was found giving up to 100 millilitres less for every 5 litres. Likewise, Mahayana was found to be using a defective petroleum dispensing machine during a check by the government team.

PM tells Supply Ministry to resolve fuel shortage

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday instructed the Supply Ministry to immediately resolve the petrol shortage problem.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Nepal has also asked the government to resolve the fuel shortage without delay. The commission said that NOC had failed to supply adequate fuel that has resulted in a shortage in the market. The commission said in a press statement that during their market inspection on Monday, the NOC depot in Thankot was found not delivering adequate quantities of fuel in the market.

The NHRC also expressed concern at the protest programme announced by the trade union related to petrol pump workers. It has also asked NOC to distribute fuel even on public holidays. (PR)