Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is set to relocate the aviation fuel depot at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) due to its outdated 50-year-old infrastructure, limited storage capacity, and proximity to the airport’s taxiway.

The relocation will move the depot northwest, near Guheshwori, in accordance with the Tribhuvan International Airport Improvement Master Plan prepared by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and recommendations from an international consultant's study.

NOC has secured a 50-ropani plot near Guheshwori, close to the Nepal Army Golf Course, provided by CAAN for the new depot. To begin preparations, NOC signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday with the Tribhuvan University Institute of Engineering in Pulchowk to draft a detailed project report (DPR).

According to Pradip Yadav, Chief of the Aviation Fuel Depot in Sinamangal, the current depot, which has a storage capacity of only five days, is urgently being relocated due to safety concerns. Construction will commence after the DPR is finalized.

"Aviation fuel is a flammable substance, and international standards must be followed," Yadav emphasized. "The new depot will incorporate advanced technology with safety as a top priority."

The project aims to complete construction by November 2027. A 2018 study estimated the relocation cost at approximately Rs 6 billion.

The move gained urgency following the tragic crash of a Saurya Airlines plane at TIA on July 24, 2024, which highlighted the depot's safety risks. The government instructed NOC to relocate the depot to a safer location within a year.

Dr Chandika Prasad Bhatta, Executive Director of NOC, confirmed that the relocation aligns with a Cabinet decision. "CAAN has provided the land, and the new depot will adhere to international standards," he stated.

CAAN has long pushed for the depot’s relocation, citing its non-compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. The current depot’s proximity to the taxiway and surrounding settlements poses significant safety risks.

“Most of the depot lies within the taxiway area, which raises serious concerns about airport security and flight safety,” said Dipendra Shrestha, CAAN’s project director, in a letter to NOC. "It also poses risks to the densely populated neighborhoods nearby."

The depot’s deficiencies are often highlighted in ICAO safety audits, damaging TIA’s reputation internationally.

Nepal’s demand for aviation fuel has steadily increased, but the Sinamangal depot can only store enough fuel for five days. International standards recommend storing enough for three to five days for emergencies and five to seven days for regular use.

Under CAAN's master plan, the international standard requires a 172.5-meter distance between the center of the main runway and the taxiway. This necessitates removing about half of the current depot to construct the new taxiway.

The existing depot spans 37 ropanis, with 32 ropanis owned by NOC and five leased from CAAN. It has a total storage capacity of 7,660 kiloliters, distributed across 14 tanks of varying sizes. During peak travel seasons like Dashain, daily sales of aviation fuel can reach up to 900 kiloliters.

The planned depot will feature five storage tanks, each with a capacity of 3,000 kiloliters, and will utilize modern technology. Currently, TIA manages around 48 international flights and 160 domestic flights daily, with daily fuel sales ranging from 500,000 to 900,000 liters.

Given its monopoly over fuel management, NOC holds full responsibility for demolishing the existing depot and constructing the new facility.

TIA, established in 1964, initially catered to small- and medium-sized aircraft. Since the arrival of larger aircraft in 1989, infrastructure upgrades have become essential to meet ICAO standards.

By Dilip Paudel