The fuel reserve at Dechenchoeling in Thimphu has been relocated to Thingchupangkha of Dogar Gewog in Paro. The new site was inaugurated on April 5.
Besides the intent to increase the reserve capacity, the relocation was imperative as the old fuel reserve at Dechencholing was in the middle of a settlement.
In July 2016, following major roadblocks triggered by monsoon rains along the highways, the need to increase the capacity of the reserve from 1,000 kiloliters to 1,600 kilolitres was realized.
“The present consumption pattern, especially in Thimphu, is around 80 KL daily. So if we take that number, in times of emergencies and natural calamities, the fuel that is being stored in this new location will cater almost for more than two weeks,” Sonam Tenzin, the Director of Department of Trade, said.
The new fuel depot was constructed at the cost of Nu 277 M with financial support from the Government of India. It is connected with fire fighting pipelines and oil water separators.
“It is very important for us to have this fuel depot newly established in the western region. Similarly, we are also planning to have the fuel depot in the central and eastern region and we are actually working into identifying areas where we could establish such similar structures,” Director Sonam Tenzin said.
The Department of Trade handed over the old fuel depot to the Department of National Properties.
