Nepal’s petroleum storage capacity sufficient for 16 days on average, says economic survey

Nepal's petroleum storage capacity can meet average demand for 16 days, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26. However, this national average masks significant regional disparities. Gandaki Province boasts a 37-day supply, while Karnali Province has only one day's worth of fuel security.

The Amlekhganj depot in Madhesh Province holds the largest share of petroleum storage at 43.5 percent, followed by Kathmandu with 21.9 percent. Other regions like Pokhara, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, and Dhangadhi have smaller capacities, with storage facilities in Dang, Simara, Bhadrapur, Manthali, and Dipayal being minimal.

On the industrial front, the fiscal year has seen the registration of 921 new industries in the first nine months, bringing the total to 11,140. These new ventures are expected to generate approximately 785,000 jobs. Foreign investment commitments have also seen a substantial rise, with Rs625.58 billion approved across 7,921 projects.

Public enterprises presented a mixed financial picture. Out of 45 state-owned entities, 27 were profitable, 16 incurred losses, and two remained inactive. This represents a slight downturn from the previous year. Despite financial fluctuations, the total assets of public enterprises grew by 9.5 percent to Rs3.206 trillion, exceeding 50 percent of Nepal's GDP.

However, Nepal continues to grapple with gender inequality. The female-to-male wage ratio stands at 0.66, significantly below the 2030 target of 0.92. The gender inequality index remains at 0.495, though the gender empowerment index has seen a marginal improvement to 0.63. Violence against women is also a persistent concern, with 13.2 percent of women aged 15–49 reporting lifetime experience of physical or sexual violence, far exceeding the target of 6.5 percent. While women's political representation has improved, it still falls short of national targets across federal, provincial, and local governments, and particularly in the civil service at the policy level.