The issue of the inconsistent fuel supply at the Gedu fuel depot persists leaving people in the area frustrated and helpless. Officials from the Druk Petroleum Corporation Limited, which is operating the depot, say the prolonged process of making payments to India is hindering service delivery.
The Druk Petroleum’s fuel depot in Gedu is located right next to the Thimphu-Phuentshogling way. The depot caters to people from nearby gewogs, residents and even to the travellers passing by. However, people say the depot remains out of fuel most of the time.
“The fuel depot at Gedu has been running out of fuel not once or twice. The depot doesn’t have fuel most of the time. I have experienced about seven times. We have no option but to go to STCBL’s depot near the Thimphu Phuentshogling bypass. The issue is not something new,” said Parop, a resident of Bongo Gewog.
“Although we have roads and vehicles, we are handicapped without fuel. When we ask them, they say it is because of delays from the source. We have to travel either to Phuentshogling or to Chhukha to get fuel. I think the issue can be solved if another depot comes up because right now without any competitors, they have the monopoly,” said Karma Dorji, another Resident of Bongo Gewog.
Bongo-Phasuma Tshogpa, Tashi Penjor said, “With people raising concerns about the fuel shortage, we have submitted the issue to Gewog and Dzongkhag Tshogdu several times. We have also asked officials from the depot to come but they never came. The issue has been there for several years now.”
Erratic fuel supply at the depot worries the farmers in the locality as most of them now use machinery in their fields. They also question the quality of the fuel as there were several issues in the past.
Parop said, “Last year, there was an incident where a person from my village bought fuel from the depot for his power chain. He bought ten litres of fuel of which two litres was water. Most of the time there’s no fuel and sometimes even when there is fuel, other issues keep arising. People are upset.”
“There has also been an issue where water was mixed in the fuel. A few vehicles were also damaged,” said Tashi Penjor, the tshogpa.
The officials of Druk Petroleum in Phuentshogling say that it takes several days to make payments to counterparts in India and it disrupts fuel supply.
The officials also added the limited underground fuel tank capacity is making it difficult to meet the increasing demand.
However, officials say they are now exploring ways and coming up with strategies to address this issue.
Kinley Dem, Chhukha
Edited by Sangay Chezom
