Kathmandu, November 23:

The three-day long strike initiated by petroleum tanker drivers and Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) ended in Birgunj today with both sides agreeing to study technical losses incurred during transportation of petroleum products, as put forth by tanker drivers.

NOC allows the loss of only nine litres of petroleum products due to technical reasons for transporting per 1,000 litres currently, as against the demand by tanker drivers for 17 litres per 1,000 litres, in line with international practice.

Bishwo Nath Goel, executive chairman of NOC today informed that tanker drivers and NOC management have agreed to restore smooth supply of petroleum products immediately.

Both tanker drivers and NOC management have agreed today at Birgunj to carry out a study within a month as to how and how much tanker drivers incurred as losses due to technical reasons, said Goel. He denied any other problem in the supply of petroleum products from India to Nepal.

Bishwo Prasad Aryal, secretary of the Federation of Petroleum Transportation Association (FPTA), said that the agreement to resume smooth supply of petroleum products with NOC was reached after the management agreed to carry out a study within a month as to how tanker drivers incur losses due to technical difficulties.

Aryal revealed that the strike was initiated after NOC failed to implement an understanding reached with FPTA in line with international standards. However NOC has agreed in today’s talks to compensate for the losses incurred by tanker drivers as per international rules.

Both sides have agreed to study technical losses of tankers at the SAARC level and bring it at par with international standards.

If NOC fails to implement the agreement after the month-long study, FPTA would again go on a strike, stopping the supply of petroleum products, said Aryal. There are a total of 500 tankers used for transportation of petroleum products.