PM Koirala discusses petroleum crisis with Indian envoy

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala held a meeting with Indian ambassador Shiva Shankar Mukherjee in Baluwatar Saturday morning and discussed ways to end the petroleum crisis in Nepal.

The Prime Minister asked Mukherjee for his help in resuming full supply of petroleum to Nepal. He also assured that the Nepal government would clear the dues of the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC).

Petroleum crisis has hit the country since last few days after the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) cut the supply by 40 percent demanding payment of all outstanding dues.

According to Indian media reports, the Nepal government had recently paid Rs 600 million to the IOC. The state-owned NOC owes over Rs 6 billion to the IOC.

Current political situation in Nepal and constituent assembly polls also were the subjects of discussion between the Prime Minister and the Indian ambassador.

The meeting came amidst reports of Chinese envoy expressing interest in supplying petroleum products to Nepal. nepalnews.com ia May 12 07

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