PARSA, August 4: Imports of cooking gas (liquefied petroleum gas) and aviation turbine fuel (ATF) via the Birgunj customs point decreased last fiscal year compared to the previous year. Data shows a four percent decline in cooking gas imports, while jet fuel imports saw a significant 71 percent drop.

According to Raghulal Karna, the information officer at Birgunj Customs Office, a total of 290,287 metric tons of cooking gas, valued at Rs 33.13 billion, was imported during the fiscal year 2022-23. The figure is a drop of 11,238 metric tons compared to 267,048 metric tons imported in the previous fiscal year

Similarly, the data indicates that 597,144 kiloliters (KL) of jet fuel, worth Rs 17.31 billion, were imported during the fiscal year 2021-22 via the Birgunj check point, compared to just 173,484 KL last fiscal year. However, despite the reduction in quantity, the value of jet fuel imported last fiscal year increased by Rs 18.21 billion due to an increase in ATF prices.

Despite the reduction in cooking gas and ATF imports, the import of diesel and petrol increased. Diesel imports rose by four percent, while petrol imports saw a two percent increase compared to the previous year.

For the fiscal year 2022-23, diesel imports amounted to 1,040,506 KL worth Rs 113.58 billion, and petrol imports totaled 389,711 KL worth Rs 38.24 billion. In the previous fiscal year, 1,083,520 KL of diesel imports were valued at Rs 109.29 billion, and 394,723 KL of petrol imports at Rs 39.02 billion.

It is noted that 70 percent of Nepal's fuel requirements are met through supplies via Birgunj. -- RSS