NOC plans Euro III standard fuel from Oct 1

SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, SEP 11 -

The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is distributing high-octane petrol of Euro III standard across the country from Oct. 1. The fuel is considered environment friendly as compared to the existing fuels of Euro II standard.

The Corporation said the product would give vehicles better mileage, increase engine efficiency and it contains substantially lower emissions of particulate matter. The NOC has been distributing the Euro III product in some select gasoline stations.

“We will be distributing the Euro III to all stations from Oct. 1,” said Digambar Jha, general manager of NOC. The Euro III petrol contains 91 percent octane, which is believed to relieve vehicle owners of regular engine problems they are having to facing with. Due to high octane, the fuel also gives better mileage. Existing Euro II products have only 2.87 percent octane.

The new product being highly explosive as compared to Euro II, the NOC is also improving the standard of the tankers that would carry them. Tankers are being taken to Raxual for repair and maintenence, Jha said. With the improved standard of oil, the price

of Euro III petroleum products will be around Rs 1 more a litre.

As the NOC is on the move to supply high standard petroleum products, it has curtailed the petroleum supply to clean up the storage tanks in Raxual and Birgunj. This has resulted in the shortage of petroleum products in the Kathmandu Valley for some days, said NOC officials. Raxual has three vertical fuel tanks that the NOC is cleaning up to replace the existing Euro II petroleum products with the new product. Raxual and Barauni are major petroleum storage centres of the country.

“Petroleum supply in the valley was also curtailed due to excess sulfur found in the imported raw diesel than the limit fixed for the Euro III standard,” said Jha.

The Euro III diesel contains 0.15-PPM sulfur while the Euro II contains 0.5 PPM, according to petroleum experts.