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The government has approved a new legal framework to allow the blending of domestically produced ethanol in petrol.

A cabinet meeting earlier this week endorsed the Order on the Use of Ethanol Blended in Petrol, 2026, formally permitting the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) to mix ethanol with imported petrol before distribution. As per the new legal framework, NOC can mix up to 10 percent ethanol in petrol.

NOC currently imports fully refined petrol from India. Officials say blending locally produced ethanol into imported petrol will help lower the import bill, reduce emissions, and create demand for domestic raw materials, particularly from sugar and agro-based industries.

Although the law allows NOC to mix up to 10 percent ethanol, NOC officials say they may begin with two percent and then move to four percent, six percent and eventually 10 percent. 

Under the approved framework, NOC will procure ethanol from Nepali producers and blend it with imported petrol before selling it in the domestic market. The petroleum monopolist has assured that ethanol blending will not compromise fuel quality. 

Ethanol blending has become a common policy tool globally to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Brazil currently blends about 27 percent ethanol in petrol and has decided to allow up to 30 percent. The United States uses a standard 10 percent blend, while the European Union permits up to 10 percent. Neighboring India has already achieved its target of 20 percent ethanol blending and is already in discussion to move beyond that.

Ethanol is primarily produced by sugar mills in Nepal. It can also be produced from crops like maize, wheat and cassava. Domestic sugar mills have expressed commitment to supply around 50,000 liters of ethanol per day to NOC. 

Consumption figures, however, highlight the supply gap. According to last fiscal year’s data, Nepal imported 746.4m liters of petrol, translating to an average daily consumption of about 2.04m liters. Blending 10 percent ethanol would require roughly 200,000 liters per day. At current production levels of around 50,000 liters daily, only about 2.5 percent blending is feasible. Conservative estimates suggest that Nepal has the potential to produce around 100 kiloliters of ethanol daily.

Nepal first deliberated the idea of blending ethanol in petrol in the early 2000s. In 2003, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies directed NOC to blend bio-ethanol in petrol. The NOC even installed blending equipment at its Amlekhgunj depot. However, that initiative stalled due to the absence of a pricing mechanism and purchase agreements with producers.

Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, is a biofuel derived from biomass such as sugarcane and maize. As an oxygenate, it promotes more complete combustion, leading to smoother engine performance and lower tailpipe emissions. Studies show ethanol blends can cut carbon monoxide emissions by up to 37 percent and significantly reduce hydrocarbons and particulate matter. Ethanol also offers substantial greenhouse gas reductions compared to pure petrol.

Beyond environmental gains, officials say the decision will support domestic agriculture and agro-processing industries, create jobs and align Nepal with regional and global fuel-transition trends. The pace of blending, however, will ultimately depend on scaling up domestic ethanol production and establishing viable commercial arrangements between producers and the state-owned oil monopoly.

Nepal imported petrol worth Rs 64.12bn in 2024/25. Officials estimate that a 10 percent reduction in petrol imports through ethanol blending could save more than Rs 6bn annually at current prices.

The registration of the representatives of the Nepali Congress Special General Convention resumed at 8:30 am today. 

A total of 2,662 general convention representatives of the NC party registered their names on Sunday itself in favor of the Special General Convention (SGC) that began at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu.

Eight stalls were set up on the first day of the event organized by a faction of NC supporting SGC.

Event Coordination Committee Coordinator Yubraj Pandey informed the number of leaders in favor of SGC from Koshi Province stood 425, while from Madhes Province 446, from Bagmati Province 432, from Gandaki Province 296, from Lumbini Province 398, from Karnali Province 134, from Sudurpaschim Province 148, and Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur) 178 and from sister organizations, well-wishers and liaison committees 195.

Pandey said that the representatives, who missed the registration on Sunday, will register their names today. They will be given the time until 11 am today.

Likewise, the closed-door session of the SGC is starting shortly.

The session could not start at 8 am due to some technical issues, the organizer said. 

The closed-door session of the Special General Convention of the Nepali Congress is to begin at 8 am today.

The Coordinator of Secretariat Coordination Committee of the Special General Convention, Manoj Mani Acharya, said that the closed-door session will begin at 8 am today.

The NC Special General Convention started in Kathmandu on Sunday.

At the beginning, the closed-door session will approve the procedures made for the Special General Convention.

Acharya shared that nine different groups will be formed for intensive discussions on policy, rules, statute, political development and other issues in the jamboree.

The party's elderly member will preside over the closed-door session, it has been said.

Earlier on Sunday, General Secretary of the NC, Gagan Kumar Thapa, asserted that the Special General Convention was called in a bid to address public disenchantment.

Addressing the inaugural session of the Special General Convention that kicked off in the federal capital at the call of Special General Convention supporters, General Secretary Thapa stated that the political parties should address the public resentment demonstrated during the Gen Z Movement last September.

There is an influence of the low-pressure system in the upper atmosphere of the country at present.

The Weather Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology stated that the weather across the country is likely to remain mainly fair today.

The fog and mist will persist today in parts of the Tarai region.

Likewise, the weather will be mainly fair in the hilly and mountainous areas of the country, according to the Division.

Tonight, mist will continue to occur at a few places in the Tarai region. Furthermore, the weather will remain mainly fair in the hilly and mountain regions of the country.

Candidates listed in political parties’ closed lists under the proportional representation (PR) system for the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) elections can withdraw their names until 4 pm today.

According to the Election Commission (EC), the candidates included in the closed list submitted by the political parties on December 28 and 29 could withdraw their names as per the deadline set for today.

The Commission will inform the concerned party about the candidate who has applied to be withdrawn and the party will be allowed to send the name of another candidate.

The closed list will be made public on January 18 for objections and claims, which will be investigated and the final list shall be published on February 3.

A total of 64 political parties had submitted their closed lists in the EC.

Names of 3,424 candidates of 64 parties have been included in the closed list for 110 places under the PR system. Out of 64 political parties, 54 political parties are using their own election symbols while remaining 10 parties would use a common election symbol.

A total of 93 political parties had filed applications in the EC to file candidacy under the PR system.

The EC had given time to the political parties from January 5-11 to make corrections after investigating the closed lists of the parties on January 4.

Fog and mist will persist until midday at some places in the Tarai region today.

Likewise, there will be partly cloudy conditions over the high hilly and mountainous areas of Koshi Province while the weather in the rest of the country will be mainly fair, according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division.

Tonight, mist will continue to occur at a few places in the Tarai region. Furthermore, weather will remain mainly fair over the hilly and mountain regions of the country.

Meanwhile, Meteorological Analysis by the Division states that at present there is the influence of the low-pressure system in the upper atmosphere in Nepal.

The special central general convention of the Nepali Congress is starting from today.

The special general convention is being held after the majority of the general convention delegates signed a call for it.

The convention is being held under the leadership of General Secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma.

The two-day special general convention is scheduled to be inaugurated at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu at 1 pm today.

Before the inauguration, leaders and cadres will gather in Sundhara, Ratna Park, Shankardev Campus, Kamalpokhari, Kupandol and other areas of Kathmandu at 11 am and leave for Bhrikutimandap with a rally, shared Jagadishwar Narsingh KC, coordinator of the special general convention public mobilization committee.

It has been decided that the special general convention will be chaired by Congress Kathmandu President Krishna Sabuj Baniya.

The organizing committee has stated that most of the delegates have already arrived.

The registration of the names of the participating delegates will be held from 8 am, informed Secretariat Coordinator Manoj Mani Acharya.

According to Ramesh Dhamala, Coordinator of the Accommodation and Food Management Committee, accommodation has been arranged for 3,600 delegates in various places in Kathmandu.

After the inauguration of the special general convention, the closed session will be held in the Bhrikutimandap assembly hall from January 12.

The special general convention, however, has not been supported by the establishment faction of the party, including its current President Sher Bahadur Deuba.

The 304th Prithvi Jayanti was celebrated across the country by organizing various programs on Sunday.  

On the occasion of Prithvi Jayanti National Unity Day, President Ram Chandra Paudel, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, ministers and other dignitaries paid homage at the statue of Prithvi Narayan Shah in front of Singha Durbar.