Kathmandu. Nepal Oil Corporation is going to build a 10-million-liter capacity petroleum storage house in Pokhara. The corporation has stated that it has started to construct and renovate the Pokhara storage house as per the policy of the Government of Nepal.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekh Raj Bhatta is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the storage house today. Two storage tanks each with a capacity of five thousand kiloliters will be constructed at Pokhara Metropolitan City Ward No. 29 and 30 Gagangaunda under the supervision of Gandaki Provincial Office of the Corporation.

Spokesperson of the Corporation Binit Mani Upadhyaya informed that the tank is being constructed with an investment of Rs. 777.7 million (excluding excise tax). It will be the second largest storage house in Nepal. Executive Director of the Corporation Surendra Poudel said, “As per the policy program of the government, the work of expanding the storage capacity has started from Pokhara. The goal is to increase the storage capacity in various places in the long run.”

Poudel stated that he was confident that the expansion of storage capacity of Pokhara Depot will prove to be a cornerstone in strengthening the sale and distribution of petroleum products in the state. After nearly two decades in the history of the corporation, the storage capacity is about to expand. He said that the consumers would not have to suffer even if there were strikes and disruptions in the supply of petroleum products, due to the increase in storage capacity. Diesel loading and unloading facility will be fully automated and based on high-tech safety technology.