NOC fails to maintain record

20th-04-2012

KATHMANDU: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) does not maintain proper records of the import of fuel.

“The state oil monopoly forecasts projected losses based on monthly consumption figures,” said acting managing director at NOC Suresh Kumar Agrawal at a programme today.

“The corporation cannot provide the real loss amount immediately,” he said, adding that Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) provides the details of supply data after two months.

Consumer rights activist Jyoti Baniya demanded that NOC provide real import data and data of losses immediately after the end of every month so that consumers and the government can tally the data.

On the occasion, NOC also floated an idea of opening petrol pumps by the employees. “The corporation will start a homework for constructing petrol pumps in Kathmandu valley and outside the valley with the investment of a month’s salary from NOC staff,” said Agrawal.

However, Nepal Petroleum Dealers’ National Association said that the idea of operating petrol pumps by employees will add more fuel to the red tapism present in the corporation which is already plagued by corruption due to the lack of transparency.

“NOC’s decision of opening petrol pumps will attract more controversy,” said general secretary of the association Bishwa Aryal.

Meanwhile, the corporation has warned of a scarcity of petroleum products soon. “NOC has to pay dues of Rs 1.60 billion to IOC at present,” said Agrawal, accusing the Finance Ministry for not providing any loan to NOC to ensure the smooth supply of petroleum products.

At present, it has less than 14,000 kilolitres (kl) of petroleum products in its stock against a capacity of 72,000 kl in various storage facilities, he said, adding the government has to provide a loan of Rs 5 billion for the import of more petroleum products.

Similarly, deputy director at NOC Sushil Bhattarai said that the problem of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) will be prolonged until it constructs a bulk storage facility. “NOC has no storage facility for cooking gas so far, pushing the government to rely on private players in the LPG sector,” he added. “It is planning to open a bottling plant in Janakpur.”


Outstanding dues

Nepal Government Rs 10.74 billion

Citizen Investment Trust Rs 4.13 billion

Employees Provident Fund Rs 6.40 billion

Commercial Banks Rs 1.90 billion

Total 23.17 billion

(Source: Nepal Oil Corporation)