Fuel scarcity hit businesses near Birgunj transit, despite resumption in supply

February 14 : The businesses in the vicinity of the Birgunj customs are still having a hard time purchasing fuel to run the industries, although it’s already been a week since the supply of petroleum products via the border point normalized. 

According to the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industries, the businesses in the region are still compelled to bear the brunt of fuel scarcity, at a time when they have already been hit hard by the long power cut hours. Meanwhile, the Chamber has drawn the Prime Minister’s attention towards the scenario and has demanded for an easy supply of fuel so as to go about their businesses. 

Birganj customs point is the source of as much as 70% of the total demand of fuel in the country. But the plight of the businesses near this border point has not reduced, despite the number of fuel trucks entering through the transit has returned to normalcy. The businesses in the region blame the negligence Nepal Oil Corporation for this. They say they are still compelled to rely on black marketers for the supply. 

President of the Chamber, Pradip Kumar Kediya, said, “the industries close to the major transit point, which has recently resumed normal operation, are forced to reel under the scarcity of petroleum.”  He added that this has led to a significant increase in the production costs.