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The committee formed to recommend a managing director for the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) has shortlisted three candidates for the post.

The committee has forwarded the names of three candidates to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, from whom one will be selected to lead the country's state-owned oil supplier. The candidates were shortlisted based on the decision of the ministry's recommendation committee meeting held on Sunday.

The NOC's top position has remained vacant since former Managing Director Chandika Prasad Bhatta resigned on May 13. The ministry had invited applications through a public notice on June 16 to fill the vacant post through open competition.

The shortlisted candidates are Kaushal KC of Naubahini Rural Municipality-6, Pyuthan; CA Nagendra Sah of Nagrain Municipality-3, Dhanusha; and Sanjeev Kumar Dev of Rajbiraj Municipality-13, Saptari.

The Council of Ministers will appoint one of the three shortlisted candidates as the NOC's managing director for a four-year term. The position is considered crucial due to its responsibility for fuel supply management, infrastructure development - including expanding storage capacity and petroleum pipeline networks - and institutional reforms in the sector.