In which modality will the petroleum project be built?

In the presence of Prime Minister Dahal and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, the then Industry, Commerce and Supply Minister Ramesh Rizal and Indian Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri exchanged the MoU.

The agreement mentions the construction of a petroleum pipeline and a greenfield terminal from Siliguri in India to Jhapa in Nepal. An agreement was reached to extend the petroleum pipeline from Motihari to Amlekhganj to Lothar in Chitwan. Although there is an agreement to expand the project, even after 11 months, the modality has not been finalized.

According to experts, the delay occurred after India hesitated to build the project with subsidies. It has not been decided whether the project worth more than 17 billion rupees will be built. It is not that the project has not been discussed between the Corporation and Indian Oil Corporation officials several times. Despite the discussion, no decision has been made regarding the construction modality. "Initially it was said to be a grant, now it is a matter of loans. This issue will have to be resolved," said Pushkar Karki, co-spokesperson of the corporation. To finalize this issue, a team including Director General Executive Director Chandika Prasad Bhatt, Deputy Executive Director Deepak Baral, Deputy Executive Director Birendra Goit, Deputy Director Manoj Kumar Thakur reached the IOC Central Office, Delhi on Tuesday. Executive Director Bhatt said that the main issue of the visit is the petroleum project.

The only purpose of the IOC visit is to build petroleum projects with subsidies. This is the bottom line of the corporation," said Bhatt. "We have seen the possibility of grants." It was agreed to finalize the investment modality, design and other matters within 6 months after signing the agreement on the second phase of the pipeline project. Consent has expired. Although there is confusion about the project or not, the executive director's team has reached India to make the final decision.

About 4 years ago, a joint team of the IOC and the corporation has already studied to make the project. The team has concluded that it will cost 17 billion to build two pipelines and one terminal. According to the cost, construction of Amlekhganj-Chitwan petroleum pipeline will cost 4.38 billion rupees (274 crore rupees), construction of Siliguri-Jhapa petroleum pipeline will cost 4.6 billion rupees (288 crore rupees) and construction of greenfield terminal at Charali will cost 8.3 billion rupees (502 crore rupees). is mentioned. Thus, the cost of these three projects will be around 17 billion 1 crore.

It is mentioned that it will cost 9 billion 88 crores (618 crores) to build a greenfield terminal at Lothar in Chitwan. The corporation itself has to invest in Lothar. According to the MoU, all the homework will be done within 6 months and all the three projects will be completed in 54 months from the start of the construction work. But the construction modality was not finalized for 11 months.

It is said that the visit to India with the executive director will discuss the business diversification of the corporation, bitumen business and electric vehicle charging station. According to Bhatt, issues such as gas import through pipeline and opening of chemical fertilizer factory will also be discussed. According to sources, IOC is interested in chemical fertilizer factory in Nepal. He expressed his desire to build a pipeline from Gorakhpur to Bhairahawa. The corporation plans to operate a chemical fertilizer factory on the corporation's land in Bhairawa. Homework is being done to build the factory on PPP model. The IOC has shown its willingness in this too. It is said that this matter will also be discussed.

The team will discuss the issue of bottom loading fuel loading in a meeting with the IOC representative. There are 70 tankers under Bhairahawa depot. Out of this only 17-18 have bottom loading. IOC has been pressing for bottom loading from all tankers. IOC refused to give petroleum to some tankers due to lack of bottom loading. Co-spokesperson Karki said that these various issues will also be discussed. "Technology is developing in tankers, for the time being we request to provide transportation facilities even in tankers that do not have bottom loading facility," said Karki.

Lately, the corporation has started 'bottom loading' on tankers transporting petroleum products. According to the corporation, the fuel filling system with the help of pipe in the lower part of the tanker will control the leakage and make the load-unload work easier. The risk of fire is also reduced. Installing bottom loading on an old tanker costs about 1.5 million. This is the reason why businessmen are reluctant to connect such a system.