IOC refuses to provide fuel despite assurances

Kathmandu October 5- Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) said on Sunday India continued to impose strict restriction on oil supply despite assurances on Saturday that it would provide required quantity of petroleum products. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) had reached out to the NOC after reports emerged that New Delhi had instructed its agencies on the ground to lift restrictions on essential supplies to Nepal.

Following assurances from the IOC, the sole supplier of petroleum products to Nepal, the NOC had sent 103 oil tankers to IOC depots in Siliguri and Raxaul. When the tankers reached the IOC depots, the Indian supplier only agreed to give a few tankers of oil citing non-authorization from the higher authorities. “We refused to refill the tankers after the IOC told us that it would only refill oil in 10 percent of tankers that reached the depots,” said Mukunda Ghimire, director at the NOC. “The IOC on Sunday said they were unable to provide fuel as they are yet to receive the instruction from the higher authority.”

More than 300 petroleum tankers used to enter Nepal daily during normal times, but the number has dwindled down to a handful of tankers since India imposed the unofficial blockade two weeks ago, the NOC said.

Nepal might approach other countries: Envoy

Nepali Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay has told India that Nepal would approach other countries, including China, if the southern neighbor continues to restrict oil supply to Nepal, Press Trust of India has reported.
“They [India] should give a time frame. Does it mean hours, weeks or months?” Upadhyay told the PTI in an interview on Sunday. “Because, if pushed to the wall or as you say ‘marta kya naa karta’ [if you are desperate what won’t you do], we will be forced to approach other countries,” he said, adding “though it would be logistically very difficult but if left with no option Nepal would approach other countries including China.” Source: the Kathmandu post