Three fuel-loaded Nepal Oil Corporation tankers returned from Kerung, the nearest border town of China from Rasuwagadhi, on Saturday night.

With the first consignment of fuel that China pledged as grant, the tankers crossed the Rasuwagadhi customs at 9:30pm.

The trucks carrying a total of 27,000 litres will remain at the Timure post of Nepal Police in Rasuwa district until Sunday morning.

Of the 12 tankers that reached Nepal-China border on Friday, the Chinese side allowed only three to enter Kerung, citing refuelling-related problems. The tankers were supposed to cross the border in the morning but a snowfall in Kerung had delayed their departure.

This is the first time Nepal is bringing oil from China after relying solely on India for petroleum supply for the last four decades.

The Chinese government has pledged 1,000 tonnes (1.3 million litres) of fuel as grant to Nepal while the country is reeling under an acute shortage of petroleum products created by India’s unofficial blockade.

India has been curtailing fuel supply to Nepal expressing dissatisfaction over Nepal’s new constitution that has been opposed by some Madhes-based parties.