Nepal Oil Corporation, the state-owned fuel supplier, will keep domestic petroleum prices unchanged despite higher import costs for Indian oil.
The public-sector monopoly confirmed that prices for petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel, and liquefied petroleum gas will remain at their current levels.
Import Costs and Public Relief
NOC received a price revision from its only supplier, Indian Oil Corporation , but chose not to raise fuel prices immediately.
The corporation said it was maintaining the existing pricing structure in response to the country’s socio-economic pressures.
- Absorbing Costs: Under NOC’s rules, fuel prices are reviewed every two weeks through an automatic adjustment mechanism that reflects changes in international markets. The higher charges from IOC would therefore normally trigger an automatic price revision in Nepal. NOC, however, opted to absorb the additional costs incurred in its purchases from IOC.
- Disaster Relief: NOC officials said a petrol price increase would further burden people already affected by the recent devastating floods and landslides in Bhotekoshi and the high-range river.
- Festive Season: As Dashain and Tihar approach, NOC aims to keep fuel prices steady to curb rising general prices and shield ordinary people from higher costs for goods, transport, and travel.
Monitoring Market Trends
NOC said prices across all fuel categories, including the particularly sensitive Category III (Kathmandu Valley), would remain unchanged. Its routine monitoring teams will also watch fuel stations for any artificial price increases during the festival rush.