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Fuel queues re-form in many areas this week

26 Aug 2022

  • Issuing fuel to bowsers from CPSTL Muthurajawela Terminal halted since Wed.
  • Kolonnawa Terminal issuing low quantities 
  • Minister Kanchana blames unloading delays due to bank clearances  
BY Safrah Fazal While the introduction of the quick response (QR) code system at fuelling stations islandwide since the beginning of this month helped overcome the days-long fuel queues, a shortage of fuel at the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd. (CPTSL) at Muthurajawela has resulted in the re-emergence of queues in some parts of the island this week. When contacted by The Morning, Ceylon Petroleum Private Tanker Owners’ Association Secretary Shantha Silva said that the issuing of fuel for fuel stations from the CPTSL Muthurajawela Terminal had been halted since Wednesday (24).  “Since Wednesday, the issuance of diesel and petrol from the Muthurajawela Terminal has only been for Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) depots and not for filling stations; so a shortage in fuel at sheds has emerged, thus leading to queues.” Motorists who had visited both Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) fuel filling stations to obtain fuel through the QR code system were seen languishing in queues outside empty fuelling stations once again yesterday (25) in some parts of the island, including in the Colombo, Ratnapura, Kurunegala, and Hatton areas. Silva further stated that fuel was issued to bowsers at the Kolonnawa Terminal, although at much lower quantities, noting: “Although they issue fuel at the Kolonnawa Terminal, not even 100 bowsers are sent out daily, when around 250-300 bowsers were released each day previously.” Meanwhile, issuing a statement on Twitter yesterday, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera stated that the distribution of fuel from the CPSTL was delayed owing to delays in unloading.  “There was a delay in unloading the Super Diesel cargo yesterday (24) due to bank clearances and discharging commenced only an hour ago. The Auto Diesel cargo arriving tonight (25) will commence unloading tomorrow (26). CPSTL distribution will continue during the night today to make up for the delays. Petrol is distributed in combinations to most fuel stations with diesel stocks. The delay in unloading diesel has resulted in delays in the distribution of petrol. Working overnight to cover up the delays.” On Tuesday (23), issuing a statement on Twitter, Wijesekera stated that 30,000 metric tonnes (MT) of Super Diesel were to be unloaded on Wednesday, whilst a cargo of Auto Diesel was to arrive between yesterday and today (26) and a shipment of 92-Octane Petrol is to arrive between tomorrow (27) and 29 August. Due to the serious economic crisis that has arisen in the country, particularly the shortage of foreign exchange reserves, the import of fuel and many other commodities has been limited for several months. With the restriction of fuel importation, long queues were seen near the filling stations in the past, while incidents of certain persons buying fuel and selling them at higher prices were also reported.  In this context, the Ministry of Power and Energy took steps to introduce a system of selling fuel under a QR code system, under which, a quota of fuel is sold weekly for registered vehicles. This QR system has received mostly positive feedback and has been credited with significantly reducing the length of the queues.  


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