MINISTER PUN DISCUSSES FUEL SUPPLY WITH CHINA
PURNA BASNET
GUANGZHOU (China), Nov 17: Minister for Commerce and Supplies Ganesh Man Pun has requested the Chinese government to provide petroleum products to Nepal at reasonable prices for emergency supply as the country is reeling under an acute fuel crisis.
Minister Pun, who reached Beijing Tuesday with a letter from Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in an informal visit, held talks with the officials of the Communist Party of China and appealed to the Chinese side to supply petroleum products to Nepal.
GUANGZHOU (China), Nov 17: Minister for Commerce and Supplies Ganesh Man Pun has requested the Chinese government to provide petroleum products to Nepal at reasonable prices for emergency supply as the country is reeling under an acute fuel crisis.
Minister Pun, who reached Beijing Tuesday with a letter from Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in an informal visit, held talks with the officials of the Communist Party of China and appealed to the Chinese side to supply petroleum products to Nepal.
"Talks on Nepal's fuel crisis were held with the vice-president of All China Youth Federation," an official at the Nepali embassy in Beijing said quoting Minister Pun, adding, "Chinese government has assured Minister Pun of supplying petroleum products at international market prices and free of service tax and other taxes."
Though an MoU has already been signed for supply of petroleum products from China, Nepali officials and stakeholders have been maintaining that the price of the petroleum products from China could be comparatively higher than those imported from India.
Though Nepal government had maintained that it would waive tax for PetroChina, Chinese state-owned company, for supply, the company had said that the government of both Nepal and China hold talks at political level and reach to a common understanding regarding supply of fuel to Nepal.
"Minister Pun's informal visit to China shows that the government has given top priority to fuel supply. The ministry will move forward with further process required to supply fuel from China based on political development during Minister's China visit," said the official.
According to businessman Narendra Ulak, who is accompanying Minister Pun to China, the letter of Prime Minister Oli also requests the Chinese government to provide fuel at reasonable prices.
"The fuel to be imported from China will cost not higher than the current price of petroleum products in Nepal. However, Nepal will have to bear the transportation and refinement costs. Minister Pun also discussed LPG supply," added he.
Within two to three days after a deal is sealed to waive tax to low the price of petroleum products and a formal trade agreement takes place, the China government will start supplying fuel to Nepal.
Minister Pun is returning to Nepal on Tuesday night and trade agreement with China will proceed only after briefing about political understanding reached with the Chinese leaders to Prime Minister Oli.
Though an MoU has already been signed for supply of petroleum products from China, Nepali officials and stakeholders have been maintaining that the price of the petroleum products from China could be comparatively higher than those imported from India.
Though Nepal government had maintained that it would waive tax for PetroChina, Chinese state-owned company, for supply, the company had said that the government of both Nepal and China hold talks at political level and reach to a common understanding regarding supply of fuel to Nepal.
"Minister Pun's informal visit to China shows that the government has given top priority to fuel supply. The ministry will move forward with further process required to supply fuel from China based on political development during Minister's China visit," said the official.
According to businessman Narendra Ulak, who is accompanying Minister Pun to China, the letter of Prime Minister Oli also requests the Chinese government to provide fuel at reasonable prices.
"The fuel to be imported from China will cost not higher than the current price of petroleum products in Nepal. However, Nepal will have to bear the transportation and refinement costs. Minister Pun also discussed LPG supply," added he.
Within two to three days after a deal is sealed to waive tax to low the price of petroleum products and a formal trade agreement takes place, the China government will start supplying fuel to Nepal.
Minister Pun is returning to Nepal on Tuesday night and trade agreement with China will proceed only after briefing about political understanding reached with the Chinese leaders to Prime Minister Oli.
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