KATHMANDU, July 25: Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is set to construct a new aviation fuel depot at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at an estimated cost of Rs 6.5 billion. The current facility at Sinamangal fails to meet international standards, poses safety concerns, and lacks expansion capacity, prompting the plan to relocate the depot to the northeastern Guheshwari area of the airport.
The Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, under Tribhuvan University officially handed over the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to NOC on Thursday. The report outlines the project cost at Rs 6.54 billion and confirms that the new facility will comply with global petroleum safety standards, including those set by the American Petroleum Institute.
Aviation fuel depot in Pokhara with an investment of Rs 680 mil...
The DPR was prepared after the government decided to shift the depot location through a Cabinet decision on August 12. The new depot will feature five vertical tanks with a capacity of 3,000 kiloliters each and space for future expansion. According to NOC depot chief Pradeep Kumar Yadav, the design ensures the depot can meet aviation fuel demands for the next 50 years.
The facility will be modern and fully automated, with six loading and eight unloading bays, and seven hydrant refuelers to serve international flights. It will also include two 2,100 kiloliter water tanks and an automated fire suppression system for safety.
NOC plans to call for international tenders by August/September (Bhadra) and begin construction in November/December (Mangsir), provided the Civil Aviation Authority completes the land management process. The project is targeted for completion within two years, with operations set to begin by mid-December 2027.
Assistant Dean of the Institute of Engineering, Suraj Lamichhane, emphasized the institution’s technical capacity to deliver such designs and expressed satisfaction in completing the DPR on time.
