Bagmati, Feb 17: In a significant development, Nepal has commenced the regular import of petroleum products through the newly expanded pipeline from India’s Motihari to Amlekhgunj in Bara. This marks a milestone in the Intra-national Petroleum Pipeline Expansion project, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of fuel supply in the region.

Pralayankar Acharya, Chief of Nepal Oil Corporation’s Madhes Province Office in Amlekhgunj, confirmed the completion of the pipeline expansion and the initiation of regular imports. “Petrol and kerosene have already been imported via the pipeline,” Acharya stated. “We have now started formally distributing the imported petrol to depots in major cities across the country.”

The pipeline expansion project includes the construction of two petrol tanks with a capacity of 4,100 kiloliters each, two transmix tanks with a capacity of 250 kiloliters, and 24 fully automatic loading way-refillers for transporting petrol. Additionally, a pump house and laboratory have been established at the Indian Oil Corporation’s depot in Amlekhgunj.

The project also saw upgrades to the ‘Fire Fighting System’, the ‘OWS System’ for water and oil separation, and the PMCC Cell. Likhita Infrastructure was contracted to complete the construction by 2023, but the work was only recently finished due to various delays.

Indian Oil Corporation has also constructed two transmix tanks for storing mixed fuel and a firewater tank with a capacity of 3,000 kiloliters for depot protection. With these enhancements, the Amlekhgunj depot now boasts a diesel storage capacity of 24,840 kiloliters and a petrol storage capacity of 16,630 kiloliters.

This development is expected to significantly bolster Nepal’s fuel supply infrastructure, ensuring a more stable and efficient distribution of petroleum products nationwide.