All the 12 tankers that had reached the bordering Chinese town of Kerung have returned to Nepal carrying the fuel gifted by China. Officials said the tankers brought in 80,000 litres of oil in the first lot.

Although the Nepal Oil Corporation planned to transport 120,000 litre petrol in the 12 tankers, drivers hesitated to fully load the trucks citing the road conditions.

On Saturday, three tankers had brought fuel from China. Nine more trucks fetched fuel to Nepal on Sunday.

There were delays on the Nepal side in customs clearance due to a tax issue but it was settled at a higher level. The Finance Ministry ruled that the NOC must pay prevalent taxes until the government takes a specific decision.

Three tankers that arrived with 28,000 litre petrol on Saturday are on their way to the NOC depot in Thankot, Kathmandu. They were stuck at the border for 19 hours.

The remaining trucks have been sheltered in Dhunche, 19km from Rasuwagadhi. Chief District Officer of Rasuwa Shiva Ram Gelal said they would be sending the tankers to the Valley on Monday. “Due to security reasons, these tankers are staying overnight at Dhunche,” he said. NOC spokesperson Deepak Baral said they would be importing the 1000 tonnes of petrol pledged by China in six lots.

28 tankers, 11 gas bullets enter from south

KATHMANDU: As many as 27 fuel tankers entered into Nepal through various points on the Nepal-India border on Sunday. Fifteen tankers—12 carrying diesel, two aviation fuel and one of kerosene—and a cooking gas bullet entered via the Nepalgunj-Rupaidiha border. Our correspondent in Bhairahawa said 11 gas bullets, which were rerouted from Raxaul, arrived at Bhairahawa via Sunauli. One petrol tanker came in from Biratnagar-Jogbani. (PR)

NOC, PetroChina to pursue deal: Maskey

Kathmandu: Nepali Ambassador to China Mahesh Maskey has said that the “ball is in the court of Nepal Oil Corporation and Petro China to expedite commercial supply” of petroleum products in Nepal.

Maskey, who has been instrumental in laying the groundwork for the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Nepal and China on supplying petroleum products to Kathmandu, said the two corporations have to work out the details of starting commercial supplies to Nepal.

“We want this to start before the final consignment of the grant fuel arrives in Nepal. But the ball remains in the court of the two

corporations,” Maskey told the Post. The ambassador, who held dense conversations with the Chinese side on the prospect of petroleum supplies from China immediately after the Indian restrictions caused a widespread shortage of fuel, is mindful of the logistical challenges on the Nepali side.

He said the road conditions on the Nepali side need to be improved to ensure uninterrupted supply. Maskey travelled from Kerung, China, to Rasuwagadhi and finally to Kathmandu both to inspect the road conditions and to attend the handover ceremony of the first consignment of the petroleum products that China sent. (PR)