BARA: Regular import of petroleum products, including petrol, kerosene, and other essential fuels, has officially begun through the expanded Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline.
The expansion of the international pipeline was completed recently, marking a significant milestone in Nepal’s petroleum supply chain.
Pralayankar Acharya, Chief of the Madhes Provincial Office of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) in Amlekhgunj, confirmed that the expansion project is now fully operational.
“Petrol and kerosene have already been delivered through the pipeline,” Acharya said, adding that the distribution of the imported petrol to major depots across Nepal has now started.
As part of the pipeline expansion, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has enhanced the infrastructure at the Amlekhgunj depot.
This includes the construction of two petrol tanks with a combined capacity of 4,100 kiloliters, two transmix tanks for mixed fuel storage, and 24 fully automatic loading refillers for transporting petrol. Additionally, the project also upgraded the fire fighting system, built an oil-water separation (OWS) system, and constructed a PMCC chamber for better security.
Chief Acharya highlighted that the completion of the expansion will enable the continuous and regular import of petrol, diesel, and kerosene through the pipeline, effectively reducing the reliance on tankers.
The expansion project was undertaken by Likhitha Infrastructure Limited and completed in 2023, although some delays were encountered during its implementation.
The pipeline is expected to significantly cut down on technical losses, reduce transportation costs, and help minimize environmental pollution. The storage capacity at the Amlekhgunj depot will also increase, with a new capacity of 24,840 kiloliters for diesel and 16,630 kiloliters for petrol.
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