By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Jan. 11: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta has said that action will be taken against anyone involved in adulteration and loss of petroleum products.
Addressing the 51st anniversary of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) on Sunday, he said, "We will take action against anyone involved in misappropriation."
He said that the corporation would move ahead by making its employees more organised and encouraging them to maintain good governance.
Minister Bhatta said, "The management of the corporation is getting improved, new technology is being developed, we have been successful in controlling losses and leakages, and the corporation is actively engaged for the expansion of pipelines and depots."
He said that the corporation had completed works on the national pride projects such as petroleum pipeline and has succeeded to win the hearts of the consumers by delivering gas to all households during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister Bhatta addressed the gathering using zoom technology from Kailali.
Chairman of NOC and Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dr. Baikuntha Aryal said that works were underway to ease supply of petroleum products.
"Infrastructure construction, storage capacity expansion, pipeline expansion and making the corporation technology-friendly have started. We are looking forward to achieving success in these projects," he said.
Stating that the automatic price system has worked effectively in adjusting the price of petroleum products, Aryal said, "Prices of fuel go down and up based in their international prices. We have not done anything to add burden to the consumers unnecessarily."
Surendra Kumar Paudel, managing director of NOC, said that the demand for petroleum products has been increasing by double-digit every year as the development activities in the country have gained momentum.
He said, "In the coming years, we will increase the storage capacity for 90 days. In addition, the storage capacity has increased in all provinces. Petroleum products from India will arrive in Charali in Jhapa through pipeline,” he said.
The pipeline from Amalekhgunj to Lothar of Chitwan will be expanded and storage capacity is being increased in Pokhara, Jhapa and Nepalgunj, he said.
He said that they were preparing to adopt technology-friendly practices.
According to him, works will be done in digital system by implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) system from the current fiscal year.
He said the offices of the corporation across the country would be operated through an integrated online system. “Leakage and loss will be controlled by monitoring the tankers transporting petroleum products through GPS,” he added.
The NOC will produce hydrogen fuel commercially to be used as an alternative to diesel, petrol and gas, he said.
The corporation has reached an agreement with Kathmandu University (KU) to study the production of hydrogen fuel using domestically produced electricity.