Kathmandu, September 25

The government has decided to propose to the government of India to expand the Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline to Lothar of Chitwan district. Currently, the cross-border petroleum pipeline is under construction from Motihari of India to Amlekhgunj of Nepal and roughly around 50 per cent of the works has been completed so far.

Nepal will carry forward the agenda of expanding the petroleum and gas pipeline during the Nepal-India joint working group (JWG) meeting on

oil and gas going to be held in Kathmandu from Wednesday.

A delegation led by Nava Raj Dhakal, joint secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, will hold talks with the Indian team led by Sanjay Sudhir, joint secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, India and formally urge the Indian side to expand not only the petroleum pipeline to Lothar but also expand a gas pipeline to Nepal.

India has been expanding its gas pipeline to Muzaffarpur and Nepal Oil Corporation and Indian Oil Corporation have so far signed an agreement to avail the entire required quantum of LPG from Muzaffarpur once the depot comes into operation.

Talking to The Himalayan Times, Joint Secretary Dhakal, said that Nepal will propose this agenda of expanding gas pipeline from Muzaffarpur to Amlekhgunj of Nepal. The length of the gas pipeline from Muzaffarpur to Amlekhgunj will hover around 160 km. Currently, the cross-border petroleum pipeline which is being laid from Motihari to Amlekhgunj is 37 km long. If the government of India agrees to Nepal’s proposal the petroleum pipeline will be expanded a further 59 km.

Petroleum and gas pipeline is expected to bring down the cost of oil and gas transportation substantially and also ensure smooth, reliable and secured supply.