NOC accelerates petroleum storage facility construction process

BHAIRAWAHA, JULY 3: The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has accelerated the construction of a petroleum storage facility at the Rohini river bank in Rupandehi. Engineer Hiramani Khanal reported that 70 percent of the embankment construction at the Rohini rivulet, which borders Omsatiya and Rohini rural municipalities, has been completed. This construction considers the flood situation over the past 50 years.

The NOC is building the storage facility on approximately 14 bighas of land purchased along the Parasi-Bhairahawa road section to address the limited capacity and proximity to human settlements of the current Bhalbari depot. This new facility aims to sustain the petroleum demand of Lumbini Province for 20 days.

Project Coordinator Pradeep Yadav stated that the storage tank construction, costing Rs 3 billion, will include three tanks with a capacity of 2,100 kilolitres of diesel, two tanks for 1,600 kilolitres of petrol, and three tanks for 70 kilolitres of kerosene oil. Once the new facility is completed, the Bhalbari depot will be relocated to the Rohini riverbank. The project's design, being handled by Kathmandu University, is expected to be completed by mid-October, with the foundation stone laid in November. The target for the project's completion is set for the Nepali year 2083 BS.