Government Working to Expand Petroleum Infrastructure and Resolve Tea Export Issues

Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister Gauri Kumari has said the government is actively working to expand petroleum infrastructure, develop industrial areas and resolve problems seen in tea exports. Responding to lawmakers’ questions in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Minister Kumari said work related to the construction of the Siliguri-Charali and Amlekhgunj-Lothar cross-border petroleum pipelines is moving ahead through Nepal Oil Corporation. She also informed the House that land management has already been completed for the construction of a petroleum storage facility in Sarlahi, while other technical preparations are also being carried forward by Nepal Oil Corporation.

Minister Kumari said the government is working with the goal of increasing petroleum storage capacity to a level sufficient to meet total demand for three months. Under the industrial infrastructure development program, work is also underway to upgrade the access road to the Daiji Industrial Area in Kanchanpur and develop the industrial area so that plots can be provided to industrialists. She said the ministry is making diplomatic efforts to resolve technical and trade barriers in tea exports. To address storage problems and expand market access for tea, cardamom and other agricultural products, the ministry is also working to arrange resources for warehouse construction in cost-sharing partnership with related entrepreneurs and business operators.