Supply Minister Bhandari's comment that the existence of oil corporation may be in crisis if it does not diversify its business
Industry, Commerce and Supply Minister Damodar Bhandari has said that the employees of Nepal Oil Corporation are not ready for work. He said that if the corporation, which has been selling only fuel for 55 years, does not diversify its business, the existence of the corporation may be in crisis.
Minister Bhandari argues that when new options are being used in the energy sector, there is no longer a situation to enjoy selling only oil. He claims that the employees are not ready to diversify.
'For 55 years, the corporation only worked to sell oil, there are not many days to enjoy selling only oil. During this period, other work as directed by the corporation's charter should have been done," said Minister Bhandari in a program organized on the occasion of the corporation's 55th anniversary. Even the work of moving the depot of Tribhuvan International Airport has not progressed as expected. The high-ranking employees in the corporation can be counted on the fingers, but no one has shown readiness to work in a visible manner.
According to Minister Bhandari, even though the risky depots in the dense slums have to be relocated, the employees have not shown readiness. He said that the government is prioritizing the issues of using ethanol mixed with petroleum products, giving subsidies only to gas cylinders for household purposes and supplying gas through pipelines. Industries Minister Bhandari said that the studies for petroleum extraction in Dailekh have received positive reports about the presence of petroleum products.
Industry Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut also said that emphasis should be placed on expanding the corporation's capacity and business diversification. He said that the role of the corporation is important for increasing the storage capacity, expanding the pipeline and easy availability of quality petroleum products. Chandika Prasad Bhatt, the executive director of the corporation, said that the corporation's system will be made more technological and systematic by using the latest technology. He promised that the corporation will work in promoting green and sustainable energy sources.
Bhatt claims that the corporation is emphasizing for the trade of bitumen, lubricants, plastic chips, grease, granules and other goods. We are working for the development and use of hydrogen energy in collaboration with Kathmandu University. It is expected that the corporation's business will be diversified from such activities,' Bhatt said, 'In addition to this, we have prioritized the development of storage capacity, pipeline expansion, depot modernization and the use of information technology.' Bhatt said that there has been improvement. He said that the use of the Motihari-Amlekhganj petroleum pipeline, which has been operational since 2076, has reduced the selling price by 3 rupees per liter along with the improvement in the supply and distribution of diesel.
The work of relocating the Sinamangal Air Fuel Depot has started under the direction of the Minister of Industry. The work of acquiring land for shifting the depot in Dhangadhi is continuing,' Bhatt said, 'We have also started the work of preparing the procedure for mixing ethanol in petrol, maintaining different prices for gas for domestic and commercial use.' He said that the construction of storage house will be done. He said that cooperation with KU has been continued to commercialize green hydrogen fuel.
