Nepal imposes fines, suspensions on petrol pumps disrupting fuel distribution

The government has introduced legal provisions to impose hefty fines and suspend the distribution of petroleum products for 15 days on petrol pumps that disrupt the uninterrupted sale and distribution of petroleum products.

The Nepal Oil Corporation’s board of directors amended the regulations for petroleum product sellers to include this provision. This decision came after fuel distribution across the country became difficult on Wednesday due to petrol pumps. Acting on the directive of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Minister Gauri Kumari, the corporation incorporated legal measures for fines and distribution suspension in the regulations.

According to the amended regulations, businesses that close pumps will face fines ranging from Rs 300,000 to Rs 1 million and a suspension of petrol and diesel distribution for five to 15 days, as stated by the minister’s private secretariat.

Clause 29 (1) of the seller regulations now includes a sentence stating that sellers must not create a situation where the nozzles run dry, causing a shortage of petroleum products.

For the first offense, a fine of Rs 300,000 and a suspension of fuel supply for five days will be imposed. For the second offense, a fine of Rs 600,000 and a 10-day supply suspension will be enforced. For the third offense, a fine of Rs 1 million and a 15-day supply suspension will be applied.