Kathmandu, April 6

Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has begun distributing Euro IV standard petroleum products in the domestic market.

As per NOC, the low carbon-emitting, high standard Euro IV petrol and diesel are being supplied in the domestic market after Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) started delivering such fuel to Nepal from April 1.

“Petrol and diesel being supplied in the domestic market currently are of Euro IV standard. IOC had agreed to supply us Euro IV fuel from last Saturday (April 1) during the NOC-IOC Supply Agreement renewal meeting last week,” Sitaram Pokhrel, spokesperson for NOC, said.

Euro IV is the European fuel emission standard succeeding Euro III standard petroleum products. The Euro IV standard petroleum products are regarded as environment-friendly as they emit low carbon, sulphur and other particulate materials compared to Euro III. Consequently, the Euro IV standard fuel is also believed to play a significant role in curbing vehicular pollution. It contains only 50ppm sulphur against Euro III standard fuel that contains 350ppm sulphur.

Even though Euro IV standard fuel is slightly more expensive than Euro III standard petroleum products, NOC has not revised the prices at present. According to NOC officials, the price will likely be adjusted when it receives the rates sent by IOC. IOC sends the price rate of petroleum products twice a month — the first and 15th day of the English calendar.

Though IOC produces both Euro III and Euro IV standard petroleum products, it has been gradually replacing the production of Euro III standard fuel. The Indian government has already announced to directly switch to Euro VI standard fuel production by 2020. India has its own fuel emission standards known as Bharat Emission Stage. Euro IV standard fuel in India is known as Bharat Stage IV.

The average demand of petrol and diesel in the domestic market is almost 1,100 kilolitres and 2,700 kilolitres, respectively, according to NOC. Currently, IOC supplies petroleum products to Nepal from its refineries based in Mathura, Haldia and Barauni.