(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said he hopes that the people will be able to get fuel without interruption from the 10th of this month and once again apologized for the economic damage and inconvenience caused to the people due to the lack of fuel.
Addressing a media briefing held in Colombo yesterday (03), Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said he believes that Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (Ceypetco) filling stations will be able to distribute fuel under certain restrictions from the 10th.
The Minister said that according to the requests made to various companies including the Indian Oil Company (IOC), arrangements have been made to bring several fuel ships to Sri Lanka this month.
Minister Wijesekera said a ship carrying 40,000 metric tons (MT) of diesel will arrive in Sri Lanka on the 8th or 9th of July and the Ceypetco will be able to distribute fuel from the 10th.
According to the Minister, arrivals of a diesel ship from Coral on July 8th or 9th, a diesel ship from Vitol between July 11-14, and a petrol ship from IOC on July 22 or 23 have been confirmed.
Meanwhile, crude oil shipments from Coral on 15th July and 12th August have also been confirmed.
Arrivals of a petrol ship from Malaysia on July 10 or 11 and a Diesel ship from IOC on 15-17 July upon advance payment are yet to be confirmed.
The Minister mentioned that USD 19.5 million has been settled for the petrol ship and another USD 19.5 million dollars has to be settled by the 8th of July. He said the remaining amount of US$ 20 million to be paid for the ship is to be settled from the remainder in the Indian credit line.
In the meantime, a request has been made from the Malaysian government to obtain the fuel supply required by the country and the Malaysian government has approved the provision of 50,000 metric tons of petrol and 10,000 metric tons of kerosene and informed that necessary steps will be taken to provide the fuel as soon as possible, the Minister said.
Updating the amount of fuel available in the country, the Minister said approximately 12,774 MT of diesel, 1,414 MT of petrol 92 octane, 2,647 MT of petrol 95 octane, 233 MT of super diesel, 500 MT of aviation fuel and 29,000 MT of furnace oil are in stock at present.
