Nepal’s new Prime Minister K P Oli (R) with President Ram Baran Yadav in Kathmandu on Monday. (Source: Reuters)
Amid strain in ties between India and Nepal hitting the fuel supply to the Himalayan nation, China will be sending 1,000 metric tonnes of petrol to Nepal in grants within the next few days, according to high-placed government sources.
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The Chinese gesture comes as a big relief for Nepal that remains fuel-starved following obstruction in supply from India for the past five weeks. The government of India has cited security reasons and discouraged Indian trucks to enter Nepal following the protests leading to a sharp fall in the supply of petroleum products and acute shortage that has fuelled anti-India sentiments across the Himalayan country.
Prime Minister K P Oli had a meeting with Chinese ambassador Wu Chuntai on Friday with a request to supply fuel.
“Initially China will be providing 1,000 metric tonnes of petrol soon, and then terms and conditions would be worked out,” sources said. Indian supply of essential commodities including fuel and medicines however continues from other entry points other than the Raxaul border crossing that accounts for the biggest volume of export to Kathmandu due to cheaper transportation cost.
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