For the first time in the 55-year history of the corporation, the use of 100 percent indigenous skills and capital
Nepal Oil Corporation has built a state-of-the-art aviation fuel depot at Pokhara Regional International Airport. For the first time in its 55-year history, the corporation has brought the depot into operation at a cost of 75 crores using 100 percent indigenous skills and capital.
Pradeep Kumar Yadav, head of Pokhara Air Fuel Depot Construction Project, said that for the first time, a 100 percent indigenous consultant, indigenous builders and internal sources have built an aviation fuel depot with modern facilities. "This achievement is an important step towards self-reliance in Nepal's energy sector," he said. 3 large storage houses of 1200 kiloliter capacity have been constructed at
depot. It has the capacity to store a total of 3,600 kiloliters of aerial fuel. Each vertical storage tank is 12 meters in height and 12 meters in diameter. The Corporation has entered into a lease agreement with the Civil Aviation Authority for an area of 9,215 square meters and is conducting this project. The storage tanks and iron pipes installed here are based on American Petroleum Institute (API) standards, which ensure international quality.
Project head Yadav said that special arrangements have been made at the depot for the safety of flammable substances like aviation fuel. A separate water tank of 1200 kiloliters capacity has been constructed for security purposes, which is connected to the fire fighting structure installed around the depot.
A 'foam storage' tank with a capacity of 4,000 liters has been constructed to extinguish fire incidents immediately. As it is attached to the fire fighting structure, it is made in such a way that the foam is mixed with the water fountain and helps to extinguish the fire immediately. For fire fighting purposes, two fire fighting diesel pumps of 230 horse power capacity, one jockey pump of 15 horse power capacity and 8 inch pipe have been installed.
A product pump has been installed to fill the air fuel pipe in the storage house with the help of refuel and keep the air fuel brought from the tanker in the storage house. 1 micron and 5 micron filters are installed in loading and unloading respectively. This helps in maintaining the quality of the fuel. Bids were invited for the construction of the depot on Chait 2, 2077 according to the Public Procurement Act. But due to various reasons, after a year and a half, only on October 29, 2079, a construction contract was signed with a construction contractor who had the qualifications and the minimum amount specified according to the provisions of the Public Procurement Act.
On January 15, 2079, an agreement was reached with the Civil Aviation Authority regarding land lease. Then, in the presence of the then Industry, Commerce and Supply Minister Ramesh Rizal, the foundation stone of the construction work was laid on July 1, 2080. The corporation said that the cost of the project was managed from internal sources. This depot has been built to provide the necessary air fuel for national and international planes flying and landing from Pokhara.
