The Ministry of Supply on Thursday scrapped the quota system for fuel distribution, effective from Friday, following an increase in the imports of petroleum products from India.

However, for now, the government has decided to provide only five litres of petrol to two-wheelers and 15 litres to four-wheelers at a time. Private fuel pumps in the Kathmandu Valley will get fuel every alternate day.

The government had imposed the quota system on September 27 last year in the wake of crippling shortage of petroleum products after India imposed a trade embargo on Nepal.

Deepak Subedi, joint secretary at the ministry, said from Friday onwards, fuel would be available from both private and state-owned pumps. “Vehicles will be able to get any quantity of fuel from the gas stations within a few days,” said Subedi, who is also the coordinator of the high-level supply committee formed by the government. According to Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), its sole supplier Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has been increasing fuel consignment to Nepal through the Birgunj-Raxaul border point, which reopened last Friday after remaining closed for more than four months. In the last three days, Nepal imported around 3,000kl of petroleum products from IOC’s Raxaul depot alone. NOC Spokesperson Deepak Baral said they received 1,000kl from Raxaul on Thursday.

IOC had pledged 1,800kl fuel for Thursday, but due to heavy traffic congestion at Raxaul, NOC was unable to dispatch its tankers to bring the said quantity of fuel, according to Baral.

Imports from other border points have also improved. On Thursday, NOC imported 250kl through the Kakarbhitta border point, 800kl through Biratnagar, 700kl each through Nepalgunj and Bhairahawa, and 200kl through Dhangadhi on Thursday.

NOC said it would distribute 350kl of petrol and 450kl of diesel in the Kathmandu Valley on Friday. Private pumps will get fuel based on their past selling record, Baral said. There are more than 140 petrol pumps operating in the Valley.

Meanwhile, NOC said IOC has also been increasing supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Baral said 35 gas bullets entered Nepal  on Thursday.