Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is regularising fuel distribution to private motorists from this week. The state-owned enterprise will distribute petroleum products to four- and two-wheelers every alternative week on the basis of their licence plate numbers.Currently, the distribution is not consistent and vehicle owners are not guaranteed specific days when the fuel is distributed.

Sushil Bhattarai, acting deputy managing director of NOC, said it would issue a public notice on Tuesday stating the distribution plan. “Motorbikes and four-wheelers will get the fuel on the basis of their lot numbers,” said Bhattarai, adding they would initially implement the system for the next one month.

NOC has been diverting petroleum supply from its district-based depots to the Kathmandu valley. It has asked its depots in Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa and Biratnagar—where the supply satiation has improved—to supply more than 300kl petrol and 400kl diesel to the Valley daily.

The Valley’s daily demand stands at 450kl of petrol and 600kl of diesel. Of the country’s total demand of 1,100kl petrol and 2,600kl diesel, the Valley accounts for 40-50 percent.NOC said it come up with the plan following an improvement in fuel supply from India after the government amended the new Constitution to address the demands of agitating Madhes-based parties. According to NOC, the supplies now account for 30-35 percent of the country’s demand. The figure was at just 10 percent a few weeks ago.

Bhattarai said they would increase the frequency and volume of fuel distribution depending on the supply situation.Currently, the state-owned oil monopoly has been providing fuel regularly only to emergency services, while private motorists have to wait for NOC’s announcement for fuel distribution.NOC officials said the Tannkot depot has 1,600kl petrol and 2,500kl diesel in stock. “Supplies in excess to the stock will be distributed the general people regularly from both government-owned and private petrol pumps,” said NOC Director Deepak Baral.Meanwhile, NOC will distribute kerosene to the general people on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Netra Kafle, chief of NOC’s Thankot depot, said they would distribute 300kl of the fuel.