June 23: Fuel import through Birgunj transit point has increased significantly. The import of petroleum products via this major trade transit point of the country has gone up by 78 per cent in the 11 months of the current fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of last fiscal year, the Birgunj Customs Office said.    
More than 1.41 million kilolitres of petroleum products worth Rs 74.34 billion was imported through this transit from July 16, 2021 to June 14, 2022 of the last fiscal year.    
Meanwhile, 2.53 million kilolitres of petroleum products worth Rs 153.36 billion has been imported through the Birgunj transit in the 11 months of the current fiscal year (FY 2021/22). This volume of import is 78.51 per cent more than that of 11 months of the previous fiscal year.    
Similarly, the import of cooking gas (LPG) has increased by around 8 per cent. Altogether 258,150 metric tonnes of LPG has been imported through Birgunj transit in the last 11 months of the current fiscal year as compared to 239,638 metric tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. The import of LPG during the review period of this fiscal year is more by 18,500 metric tonnes compared to last fiscal year.    
Although the import of diesel, petrol, aviation fuel and LPG has increased in this period, the import of kerosene has decreased by 30 per cent, said Sumit Gupta, Information Officer of the Birgunj Customs Office.    
According to him, approximately 34 per cent more revenue has been collected in 11 months of the current fiscal year compared to last fiscal year. Revenue of Rs 54.53 billion was collected during last fiscal year whereas Rs 72.82 billion has been collected from fuel imports in this fiscal year.    
Seventy per cent of fuel and 85 per cent of LPG that is consumed in the country is imported through Birgunj customs. -- RSS