Work to extend the petroleum pipeline from Amlekhgunj of Bara up to Lothar of Chitwan will be pursued soon.

Works are to be initiated with the goal of expanding the pipeline up to Lothar with the completion of the works of laying the pipeline on 69 kilometres distance from Motihari of India to Amlekhgunj.

A high-level technical team has already completed a field study on the extension of the pipeline from Amlekhgunj to Lothar and its Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being prepared, said Engineer Manoj Thakur, the spokesperson for Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC).

"A high-level team of technicians from Nepal and India has conducted a field study and is now preparing the DPR," Thakur said.

According to him, works will be initiated for the construction of a petroleum storage facility with a capacity of 100,000 litres of petroleum at Lothar, along with the extension of the pipeline. NOC Spokesperson Thakur expressed the belief that western and northern parts of the country will not face shortage of petroleum products with the installation of a petroleum pipeline from Amlekhgunj to Lothar, and its operation.

Similarly, the test importation of petroleum products through the pipeline has been started with the completion of pipeline extension from Motihari to Amlekhgunj.

Chief of the NOC Madhesh Province Office, Amlekhgunj, Pralayankar Acharya, said that all works related to the expansion of the Motihari- Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline has been concluded, and petrol and kerosene has been brought via the pipeline on a trial basis for the time-being.

"Five thousand and five hundred kilolitres of petrol and 1,000 KL kerosene has been supplied through the extended pipeline on a trial basis for now. The petroleum products brought via the pipeline are being tested," he said.

Acharya shared that along with this, necessary preparations are also on for importing petroleum products via this pipeline on a regular basis.