Chitwan. The pipeline from Amlekhgunj in Bara to Lothar in Chitwan is in progress. Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has inaugurated the second phase of petroleum pipeline expansion by establishing the project’s field office at Lothar today.

The green field terminal with state-of-the-art facilities will be constructed on 23 bigha 12 kattha land at Lothar of Rapti Municipality-1. Arrangements will be made to pump petroleum products through the pipeline from the pump house at IOC’s Motihari depot to Lothar. A 10.75-inch pipeline will be laid at a distance of 62 km from Amlekhgunj to Lothar.

Project chief Pradeep Kumar Yadav said that the petroleum pipeline expansion project has started from today. “The entire paperwork has been completed and now the implementation has started,” he said, adding, “The construction of the road and coordination with the IOC will start from today. ’

According to Yadav, transporting petroleum products through pipeline projects will reduce the environmental impact, reduce the theft and adulteration of petroleum products. Expressing commitment that the corporation would work in coordination with the locals, he said that arrangements would be made for employment and employment to the locals on behalf of the project.

Deputy Director of the Corporation, RamHari Niraula, said that the project would be completed within the stipulated time and expressed the belief that the time for transporting fuel from the tanker would be gradually removed. Ward chair of Rapti Municipality-1, Siddhalal Syangtan, said the locals were happy that chitwan’s pride project has been implemented in this area. “This is the pride of not only Rapti Municipality but also of Chitwan. Rapti Municipality is ready to make the project a success,” he said.

Locals of Lothar have expressed happiness after the expansion of the pipeline project has started. It is believed that the construction of the project will facilitate the livelihood of the locals of the area and help in the consumption of local products, employment generation and other sectors.

The pipeline can supply oil at a speed of 273 kilolitres per hour, said Anupam Parajuli, assistant manager of the corporation. A parallel pipeline will be constructed along the East-West Highway. The 62-km pipeline will have 3,200 kilolitres of fuel stored regularly at any time.

Assistant Manager Parajuli said that 20 million tonnes of fuel can be transported annually through the pipeline. A pipeline station will be constructed on an area of 160 square meters in Lothar. Three vertical tanks of 11,000 kilolitres capacity will be constructed at the site to store petrol. Similarly, three tanks of 15,500 kiloliter capacity will be constructed for diesel storage and two tanks of 800 kiloliter capacity will be constructed for kerosene storage.

Three tanks of 3,600 kilolitres capacity will be constructed for this aviation fuel. The new depot at Lothar will store 91,900 kilolitres of petroleum products. Apart from this, two transmix tanks will be built.

The cost of construction of the storage house along with the pipeline is estimated to be Rs 14.09 billion. During his visit to India in May 2081, an agreement was reached with his Indian counterpart to construct a well-equipped depot with amlekhgunj-Lothar petroleum pipeline and storage house at Lothar.

According to the MoU, the government-level petroleum companies of the two countries will start the construction work by entering into a mutual agreement. According to the agreement, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) had signed a B2B agreement on September 15.

According to the agreement, the project will come into operation within 54 months of the commencement of construction work. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has already prepared a detailed study report (DPR) of the project.

The 69-km long inter-country petroleum pipeline project from Motihari in India to Khamlekhagunj in Bara has been in operation since 2076 BS. Diesel and kerosene were imported through the pipeline in the initial phase, while petroleum products have also been brought through the pipeline for some time.

After the construction of the project, it is believed that the supply of petroleum products in the western and northern regions of Nepal will be improved. The corporation was established in 2027 BS for the supply, storage and distribution of petroleum products across the country.