Aviation refuelers over 40 yrs old still in operation

KATHMANDU: The aviation refuelers being used by Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) in various ariports in Nepal are over 41 years old.

As many as 14 refuelers installed at nine airports in the country are more than 20 years old. It has created hassles in refueling aviation fuel.

Despite ban on the vehicles older than 20 years old by the government, the state-owned oil monopoly NOC has still been using ramshackle refuelers.

NOC Executive Director Surendra Kumar Paudel said pressures are coming from nationwide depots, of late, to replace the refuelers older than 20 years.

“There have been complaints of facing difficulty in refueling aviation fuel,” said Paudel.”

According to the NOC, a 41-year-old refueler is still in operation at Dhangadhi Airport, probably the oldest one in Nepal. It was manufactured in 1979.

Likewise, the refuelers installed at Biratnagar, Manthali, Sinamangal, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj airports are more than 33 years old.

Nepalgunj and Bhairahawa have 24-year-old refuelers while, Manthali, Bhadrapur and Pokhara airports are still using more 25 years old refuelers.

NOC Director Manoj Thakur said the corporation has initiated the process to replace the old refuelers through a bidding process.