Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has said it will be holding extra stocks of gasoline due to the upcoming local elections. According to the state-owned oil monopoly, it will keep enough fuel to meet domestic demand for at least 10 days.

Under the first phase of local elections, 34 districts in Provinces 3, 4 and 5 will go to polls on May 14. The government has declared a public holiday on May 14. Schools will be closed for six days from May 9.

NOC has 41,700 kilolitres of petroleum products, including aviation fuel, in stock, said Spokesperson Sitaram Pokharel. “We have increased fuel stocks from the usual 16,000 kilolitres to prevent possible shortages,” Pokharel said.

According to NOC, gasoline stocks will be spread among its depots in Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, Dhangadhi, Amlekhgunj, Nepalgunj and Thankot. Pokharel said the corporation had 37,600 kilolitres of petrol and diesel in these depots.  Likewise, NOC has boosted stocks of aviation fuel.

According to Pokharel, they have increased stocks to 4,100 kilolitres from 2,800 kilolitres at NOC’s depot at Tribhuvan International Airport. NOC has a storage capacity of 71,000 kilolitres spread among depots across the country. This stock is sufficient to meet the country’s fuel demand for 18 days. Pokharel said the corporation had increased fuel imports by almost 50 percent to strengthen reserves.

The corporation has started work to increase its warehouse capacity to hold enough fuel for 90 days. It has targeted building storage plants in all seven provinces. However, the work is at a preliminary stage.

The normal daily requirement of petrol and diesel across the country is 1,100 kilolitres and 2,700 kilolitres respectively. According to NOC, it has also planned to store fuel to its full capacity of 71,000 kilolitres for the second phase of the election. Tarai districts will go to polls in the second phase, but the date has not been confirmed.

“As fuel supplies are likely to be disrupted during the second phase of the election, we have planned to increase stocks during that time,” Pokharel said.