India continues to supply a third of Nepal's fuel requirement

New Delhi Unperturbed by Nepals fuel pact with China India continues to supply at least a third of theHimalayan nations daily fuel demand through alternative routes after the main transit point on NepalBihar border was blocked by protestersStateowned Indian Oil Corp is using alternative entry points to Nepal from Uttar Pradesh Bihar and West Bengal to reach 3235 per cent of Nepals daily requirement of 6612 kilolitres of petrol diesel kerosene ATF and LPG IOC Chairman B Ashok said hereWe are continuing to supply fuel to Nepal Obviously there are some difficulties not because of us but because of political protests on their side which has led to choking of the RaxaulBirgunj border crossing IndoNepal he saidTrucks carrying fuel are being sent from Baitalpur near Gorakhpur Gonda and Banthra in Uttar Pradesh as well as Siliguri in West Bengal IOC supplied close to 80 per cent of the 11 million tons of fuel to Nepal through the Raxual border But this main border crossing between Nepal and India has been closed due to weeks of violent protests by ethnic Madhesis against the newly adopted Nepalese ConstitutionTruck tankers that carry fuel to Nepal are owned by the national oil company of the Himalayan nation and they have not been able to cross border to reach IOC fueling depotsUltimately trucks will have to reach us The protests have meant that their Nepali trucks are not able to reach our depots We are ready to supply any quantity of fuel but we do not own the trucks Their trucks have to reach us When they do we immediately fill them and they transport it back he saidLast week Nepal which had to ration fuel supplies due to shortage created because of protests signed an agreement with China to import gasoline petrol diesel and cooking gas LPG Nepal Oil Corp and National United Oil Corp PetroChina signed a MoU for the fuel supplyBut bringing in fuel from China is a logistical challenge as the border runs along the worlds highest mountains and the two crossings were damaged by the earthquake in April Only one has reopened this monthChina was to supply 1000 tonnes of fuel to Nepal as part of the pact but only a third of it reached the country Four tankers could transport the fuel on Monday as the road to Kerung Pass along NepalTibet border was obstructed following snowfallAsked about threat from Chinese supplies Ashok said India has had a very long relationship with Nepal We believe we would continue to be a good partner They know our strength and know that we have been a reliable supplier to themNepal imported about 137 billion litres of fuel last year from IOC for USD 105 billion IOC in August also agreed to build a 41kilometre pipeline that would obliterate the need for truck movement through Raxual PTI ANZIndia continues to supply a third of Nepals fuel requirement New Delhi Nov 4 PTI Unperturbed by Nepals fuel pact with China India continues to supply at least a third of the Himalayan nations daily fuel demand through alternative routes after the main transit point on NepalBihar border was blocked by protestersStateowned Indian Oil Corp is using alternative entry points to Nepal from Uttar Pradesh Bihar and West Bengal to reach 3235 per cent of Nepals daily requirement of 6612 kilolitres of petrol diesel kerosene ATF and LPG IOC Chairman B Ashok said hereWe are continuing to supply fuel to Nepal Obviously there are some difficulties not because of us but because of political protests on their side which has led to choking of the RaxaulBirgunj border crossing IndoNepal he saidTrucks carrying fuel are being sent from Baitalpur near Gorakhpur Gonda and Banthra in Uttar Pradesh as well as Siliguri in West BengalIOC supplied close to 80 per cent of the 11 million tons of fuel to Nepal through the Raxual border But this main border crossing between Nepal and India has been closed due to weeks of violent protests by ethnic Madhesis against the newly adopted Nepalese ConstitutionTruck tankers that carry fuel to Nepal are owned by the national oil company of the Himalayan nation and they have not been able to cross border to reach IOC fueling depotsUltimately trucks will have to reach us The protests have meant that their Nepali trucks are not able to reach our depots We are ready to supply any quantity of fuel but we do not own the trucks Their trucks have to reach us When they do we immediately fill them and they transport it back he saidLast week Nepal which had to ration fuel supplies due to shortage created because of protests signed an agreement with China to import gasoline petrol diesel and cooking gas LPG Nepal Oil Corp and National United Oil Corp PetroChina signed a MoU for the fuel supplyBut bringing in fuel from China is a logistical challenge as the border runs along the worlds highest mountains and the two crossings were damaged by the earthquake in April Only one has reopened this monthChina was to supply 1000 tonnes of fuel to Nepal as part of the pact but only a third of it reached the country Four tankers could transport the fuel on Monday as the road to Kerung Pass along NepalTibet border was obstructed following snowfallAsked about threat from Chinese supplies Ashok said India has had a very long relationship with Nepal We believe we would continue to be a good partner They know our strength and know that we have been a reliable supplier to themNepal imported about 137 billion litres of fuel last year from IOC for USD 105 billion IOC in August also agreed to build a 41kilometre pipeline that would obliterate the need for truck movement through Raxual