The fuel depot in Mertsham at Kanglung Gewog in Trashigang has been closed for over a month now due to a machine breakdown. As a result, motorists have been facing inconvenience, having to travel about 20 kilometres to refuel their vehicles at fuel depots in Trashigang.
The fuel depot at Mertsham, which is about four kilometres from Kanglung towards Yongphula, has been closed since the 8th of last month.
Since then, people have been travelling to other gewogs paying exorbitant fuel prices to refuel their cars.
“The first time we got fuel here, we were happy thinking it would be convenient. But after two to three months, the fuel station closed again and it has been more than a month now. This is a big problem for people in Udzorong and travellers heading to Wamrong. We come here to refuel, only to find the station still closed, which is especially frustrating for drivers like us,” said Cheki Tshering, a taxi driver at Udzorong.
“This fuel station not only benefits the people of Kanglung but also those from Khaling Gewog. Now, without a fuel supply, we drivers are facing problems. We have to travel to Trashigang to refuel, which costs us an additional Nu 300 to 400 in fuel for the round trip,” said Ngidup Dorji, a driver at Kanglung.
The Druk Petroleum Corporation Limited in-charge in Kanglung said the machines have remained idle for a month because they needed a technician from India, as the machines are supplied by the Indian Oil Company.
He added that the technician is expected to arrive next week and they should be able to resume fuel supply by the end of this month.
The fuel station has a capacity of 20,000 litres each for petrol and diesel.
Construction of the depot began in 2019 but was delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions. It finally became fully operational in March this year.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Sonam Pem
