Nepal lifts fuel rationing

The Nepali government announced that it has ended fuel rationing in the country. The government introduced fuel rationing on Sept. 27, 2015, a few days after a fuel blockade along the Indian-Nepal border started. Nepal is landlocked by India on three sides and Tibet to the north. Nepal imports all of its petroleum product supplies from India. Roughly 300 fuel trucks enter from India on a normal day.

The fuel blockade began on Sept. 23, 2015, after Nepal announced its new constitution, which was seen by some as being unfavourable to the Madhesi people who live along the border between Nepal and India. Following protests by Madhesi groups, fuel deliveries to Nepal ground to a halt, leading to widespread shortages across the country.

Deepak Subedi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Supplies, said that fuel rationing has been lifted as petroleum product supply from India has been increasing.

“We are currently receiving 70% of the demand. The quantum of supply is on the rise,” Subedi said.

According to Nepal Oil Corp. (NOC), the state-owned trading company that deals with the importation, transportation, storage and distribution of petroleum products in the country, normal daily demand of petrol and diesel fuel is around 1,100 kilolitres (KL) and 2,700 KL, respectively. Daily demand for LPG is around 1,200 tonnes.

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