KATHMANDU: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is set to commence the import of petrol and kerosene, alongside diesel, through the multi-product pipeline from Motihari, India, to Amlekhgunj, Nepal, starting mid-January.
NOC, since 2019, has used the pipeline for diesel imports. The second phase of the pipeline project, designed to facilitate the import of petrol, diesel, and kerosene, is now nearing completion.
Testing for the transport of petrol and kerosene has been successful, according to Pralayankar Acharya, Chief of NOC’s Madhes Provincial Office.
Acharya said that new pipelines and storage tanks have been constructed at the Amlekhgunj Depot, with ongoing quality checks and system calibrations.
“We have conducted test runs, transporting 5,500 kiloliters of petrol and 1,000 kiloliters of kerosene successfully,” he said.
Detailed safety testing is underway to address potential issues such as minor leaks, with the second phase’s inauguration scheduled for mid-January.
Once operational, the pipeline will enhance safety by reducing risks associated with truck transport, such as accidents, theft, adulteration, and environmental pollution.
The pipeline’s capacity allows for the transport of 6,000 kiloliters of petroleum products daily, but current demand levels mean it will initially operate below full capacity.
The 69.2-km-long pipeline, the first of its kind in South Asia, was inaugurated jointly by then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019. The pipeline comprises 33 km in India and 36.2 km in Nepal.
Fuel imported through the pipeline is distributed from the Amlekhgunj Depot to depots in Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, Thankot, Pokhara, Birgunj, and Janakpur.
The Amlekhgunj Depot is now transitioning to full automation under the second phase of the pipeline project.
Four new vertical storage tanks, two transmix tanks, a fire control system, and 24 fully automated loading bays have been installed. The depot, which has been operational since 1976, is Nepal’s largest and boasts a storage capacity of 15,110 kiloliters of petrol, 24,810 kiloliters of diesel, and 2,270 kiloliters of kerosene.
The next phase involves extending the pipeline from Amlekhgunj to Lothar in Chitwan.
An expert team from Indian Oil Corporation is currently conducting re-surveys and environmental studies to prepare for this expansion, which is expected to begin next month.
Comment