The construction of a state-of-the-art aviation fuel depot has been completed at Pokhara Regional International Airport. Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) undertook the project, which marks a milestone as the first aviation fuel depot built entirely with indigenous skills and capital in the corporation’s 55-year history, according to Project Chief Engineer Pradeep Kumar Yadav.

Construction began on 17 July 2023, and has been completed within the stipulated two-year timeframe. The depot is expected to be officially inaugurated in July. Covering 9,215 square meters within the airport premises, the depot was established under a five-year lease agreement with the Civil Aviation Authority, with provisions for renewal. Although the initial tender for the project was invited on 15 March 2021, in line with the Public Procurement Act, delays led to the contract being awarded only on 15 Nov 2022, to the lowest bidder. Subsequently, the land lease agreement was signed on 1 Jan 2023.

The depot includes three large vertical storage tanks, each with a capacity of 1,200 kiloliters, totaling 3,600 kiloliters of aviation fuel. Each tank stands 12 meters high and has a diameter of 12 meters. The facility is equipped with two 230-horsepower diesel fire-fighting pumps, a 15-horsepower jockey pump, and an 8-inch pipeline for fire suppression.

A dedicated 1,200-kiloliter water tank has also been constructed to enhance safety, directly connected to the fire-fighting infrastructure. Additionally, a 4,000-liter foam storage tank, integrated with the fire-fighting system, provides further protection by releasing foam alongside water during emergencies to quickly suppress fires.

The depot is equipped with micron filters (1 and 5 microns) for loading and unloading operations and uses API-standard storage tanks and iron piping to maintain safety and quality. Fuel is transferred from tankers to the storage tanks via a specialized aviation fuel pipeline system. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 750m (excluding VAT).