Petroleum shortage hits the country
Once again, the country is set to face petroleum shortage since the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has cut down the supplies to Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) in a bid to twist the latter's arms to pay back the huge outstanding dues.
NOC chairman Biswonath Goyal has told Kantipur that the IOC has cut down the regular quantity of supplies to NOC.
Reports say that the IOC has cut down as much as 60 percent of supplies triggering acute shortage and depletion of petrol stock at Thankot depot. Goyal said that from Friday, they will not be able to supply petrol from Thankot depot.
The NOC needs to pay Rs 9.04 billion to IOC; and the latter has been pressing the NOC to pay the dues soon. "The IOC has demanded that we pay Rs 320 million a month. In order to press their demand, they have cut down the supplies," said Goyal.
Earlier, the IOC had cut down 33 percent supplies to press the NOC. At present, the supply of kerosene and diesel has not been affected much though. nepalnews.com sd Dec 22 06
