The Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) will together open 106 new retail fuel outlets in Nagaland to meet the increasing demand of energy in the state.
At present, Nagaland has 75 fuel outlets and 56 LPG distributors.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, N Kashung, state level coordinator, Nagaland, IOC, said the union petroleum ministry has relaxed eligibility criteria for awarding dealership for both regular and rural fuel outlets by simplifying selection and application process. He said now an applicant can apply online for opening a fuel outlet, details of which are given on the website www.petrolpumpdealerchayan.in. Selection of the dealers will be done through draw of lots to make it transparent, he stated.
He said this has been done to ease doing of business and expand the network for fuel distribution to meet the growing requirement of energy.
“Like before, an entrepreneur does not have to show his bank balance to open a fuel outlet,” Kashung said. However, the oil companies concerned will decide on the location and business feasibility of opening an outlet in any site, he added.
Of the 106 fuel outlets, IOCL will open 50 outlets, of which 27 will be regular and 23 rural retail outlets, covering 10 districts of Nagaland.
BC Sikder, chief manager, retailing initiatives, North East, BPCL, said his company will open 41 outlets, 31 regular and 10 in rural areas, in nine districts of the state.
Sijou Swrjee, area sales manager, HPCL, Jorhat in Assam, who is also looking after marketing sector of the company in Nagaland, said the HPCL will open 15 outlets in the state, out of which seven will be in Dimapur and two in Kohima.
HPCL senior manager Limahathung Odyuo said opening of the new fuel outlets will give opportunity to young entrepreneurs and also open employment avenues for youngsters.