i heard about people in nepal esp in ktm getting upset about shortages, price hikes, closures and extreme inconvenience... so far people have not "protested against the protest"... nepalese are being patient but not sure how long that will last... if this continues, i fear general lawlessness i.e. looting... GYANE GOT TO GO....


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(XIN) Only 4 days' oil stock left in Nepali capital
2006-04-24 02:58

KATHMANDU, Apr 24, 2006 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The state-owned petroleum products supplier Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has only four more days of oil stock left in the capital city of Kathmandu, if the present situation remains the same and the rate of oil consumption continues to be as low as it has been over the last few days, according to a NOC top-level official here Monday.

If traffic returns to normal, the valley will face an immediate shortage of fuel, the official told reporters, adding that NOC is facing a perilous shortage of petroleum products.

He said the gravity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that NOC has no back-up stock or "strategic oil reserve" once it runs out of petroleum products here.

NOC is facing a sea of problems such as financing, disrupted supply line and increasing price of petroleum products in the international market, besides the shortage of petro-products, the official said on condition of anonymity.

According to the official, NOC failed to pay its dues amounting to about 2.70 billion Nepali rupees (38.5 million U.S. dollars) to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), its sole supplier of petro-products on April 15, due to its inability to raise loans from Nepali commercial banks and the ongoing slack in daily transactions in petroleum products.

IOC is learnt to have been putting pressure on NOC for the defaulted payment, for continuing petroleum supplies, the official revealed.

But even if the supply remains normal from IOC, NOC oil tankers will find it difficult to reach Kathmandu Valley due to the strike- caused transport problem, the official added.

Kathmandu has been almost paralyzed since April 6 when the Nepali seven political party alliance called a general strike.

Copyright 2006 XINHUA NEWS AGENCY.