Choki Wangmo | Tsirang

Works to construct a second fuel depot in Damphu town, Tsirang is in full swing beginning this month.

A total of 13 workers are constructing the State Trading Corporation of Bhutan’s (STCBL) fuel depot on a 30-decimal land near the dzongkhag court. The construction is expected to be completed in April next year.

Workers at the site said that in the initial phase, there were issues with relocating drinking water pipes and electric poles. However, the work is expected to complete as scheduled.

The prospect of an additional fuel retail outlet in the town has excited the vehicle owners and commuters.




Gewog residents said that they travel long distances from the villages to refuel their vehicles and restock them for future use. However, they have to return home disappointed as the lone depot can’t replenish in time due to more demand.

“Sometimes even after waiting for hours, we don’t get fuel,” a commercial farmer from Sergithang, San Man Subba said. “Everyone now has a power tiller and a pickup truck and the demand for fuel has increased over the years.”

For instance, he said that during the fuel shortage across the country in March, a vehicle could fuel more than 10 litres. “With an additional fuel outlet, such issues could be addressed.”




As demand increased, the lone depot hasn’t been able to meet the increasing demand of commuters in Tsirang, Dagana, and vehicles travelling via the Sarpang-Wangdue highway.

The outlet, however, won’t have the LPG services.

By this year-end, STCBL plans to construct fuel retail outlets at Bhur in Sarpang, and Samdrup Jongkhar Thromde.