Fuel stock runs out in Nepal

The Nepal Oil Corp (NOC) has announced that it cannot distribute any more fuel as it has run out of stock -- barring what it maintains for emergency purposes.

Imports from India have come to a halt for the past five days, the media quoted NOC director Gopal Bahadur Khadka as saying.

He said fuel can no more be provided to consumers as efforts to import fuel had failed while alternative measures have yet to be found despite continuous efforts, The Himalayan Times reported.

"Our homework (to import fuel) seems to have been insufficient, alternative means have not worked," he said. "So fuel supply will not be easy at the moment."

Khadka also said that the fuel supply would not ease unless the government designated a company to import fuel along with a determination to pay the price that was asked.

The problem must be addressed at a higher level, Khadka said.

Transit points with China have been used as an alternative to bring in petroleum products but not the cooking gas, he said.

He, however, said it had some fuel reserves meant only for special and emergency purpose.