One voice of the MP on the need to move the aviation fuel depot quickly

They emphasized that the fuel storage is not in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and there is always a danger when it is near the runway. They say that the depot, which is considered highly sensitive from the point of view of security, should be moved so that it can be used in the long term.

'Sinamangal's aviation fuel depot is unsafe. It is dangerous to keep it there, it is necessary to transfer it quickly,' said Parliamentarian Ramesh Rizal at the meeting of Industry and Commerce and Labor and Consumer Welfare Committee on Sunday, 'let's pay attention to how to make fuel storage safe.' Rizal says that it should be done.

Member of Parliament Suryaman Tamang also opined that the Sinamangal Air Fuel Depot should be moved quickly. More vigilance is required around fuel storage areas. The air fuel depot is in a sensitive state, let's manage it as soon as possible," said MP Tamang. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had instructed to relocate the depot on July 18 after the plane crash of Solar Airlines. The next day, a team including Industry, Commerce and Supply Minister Damodar Bhandari also inspected the land.

MP Surendraraj Acharya says that even though the depot cannot be moved far away, the storage should be completely underground. MP Rukmani Rana Baraili insists that the depot should be moved for long-term use. Billions of rupees are spent during depot transfer. Let's do its work without exploiting the state. The depot should be moved, but let's move it in such a way that there are no errors," she said. A 2018 study estimated the cost of moving warehouses at $6 billion, with costs expected to rise further due to inflation. MP Mangalprasad Gupta said that parliamentarians can only make policies and laws and they should not specify the place regarding the transfer of depots. He said that the help of experts and technicians of related fields should be taken.

According to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, fuel storage should be in a 'taxi-way' 172.5 meters away from the runway. It is believed that fuel should be stored at least 90 meters away from it. However, there are 7640 thousand liters of aviation fuel in 6 vertical tanks and 8 underground tanks kept in Sinamangal depot within 80 meters from the runway.

According to the standards of ICAO and the master plan of Tribhuvan International Airport, the authority is working on infrastructure expansion within the airport. The now extended taxiway and aerial fuel tanks will remain nearby. It also has added security options. This is why the MPs said that the depot should be moved. In the meeting, Chandika Bhatt, executive director of Nepal Oil Corporation, said that the committee should give clear instructions regarding depot transfer and land.

The corporation is in preparation to move the depot. But Can did not provide the land. That's why we haven't been able to start DPR," said Bhatt. "There was a budget last year as well. But we could not proceed with the work as the land was not available. Therefore, clear instructions from the committee are necessary. It is said that the decision was taken by the MP to visit the air fuel depot once and give the necessary instructions.

Commerce and Supply Secretary Madhusudan Burlakoti said that the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply is ready to relocate the depot. According to ICAO rules, it is not allowed to take the aviation fuel depot outside the airport. He also said that the air fuel depot to be built now will be semi-underground.

Industry, Commerce and Supply Minister Damodar Bhandari has already offered financial and technical support to India for storage transfer. A few weeks ago, Industry Minister Bhandari, who participated in the BIMSTEC Business Summit 2024 held in New Delhi, India, made such a proposal while visiting the aviation fuel station of Indian Oil Corporation.

Minister Bhandari had proposed to relocate the depot and for that the Indian side would provide financial and technical support. The ministry has been saying that the Indian Oil Corporation is positive to increase discussions on financial and technical support.

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