Fuel supply via Birgunj route increases

Kathmandu, March 3

Supply of fuel from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) via Raxaul-Birgunj route increased substantially today for the first time after the reopening of the Birgunj trade route last month.

IOC’s Raxaul Depot that caters to over 50 per cent of the total fuel consumption of the country started dispatching fuel from February 8 after the agitating Madhes-based political parties lifted their four-and-a-half-month long border blockade. The Birgunj Customs Office said that revenue being collected from the import of fuel went up by Rs 10 million in a single day today to Rs 45 million.

“Per day average revenue collection from the import of fuel had stood at Rs 35 million after the border blockade was lifted. Today, revenue collection shot up by Rs 10 million to stand at Rs 45 million,” said Sushil Sharma, spokesperson for Birgunj Customs Office.

The revenue collected today from the import of fuel is nearly similar to collection during normal times. The maximum revenue that the Birgunj Customs Office has collected through the import of fuel in a single day till date stands at Rs 50 million, as per Sharma.

Fuel supplied from Raxaul Depot comes via Birgunj trade route. Apart from that, liquefied petroleum gas dispatched from Barauni and Mathura refineries and a nominal quantity of other petroleum products from Barauni Depot of IOC also enter through Birgunj border point.

A total of 114 tankers of diesel (1,801 kl), 47 tankers of petrol (820 kl), four tankers of kerosene (77 kl) and 30 bullets of LPG (540 tonnes) entered via Birgunj today, according to Birgunj Customs Office.