• Results from samples from two filling stations expected in two weeks
• 12 sheds in Colombo to be probed next week, islandwide by end-Nov

BY Safrah Fazal   Although samples to determine the quality of fuel issued have been taken from only two fuelling stations thus far – with results set to arrive in about two weeks – tests carried out by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) on the quality of fuel issued within the Colombo District will be expedited to investigate 12 selected sheds within the upcoming week, with tests across fuelling stations islandwide set to be completed by end of November.  Speaking to The Morning on Monday (3), PUCSL Consumer Affairs Division Deputy Director Thanuj Wijesuriya said that as the sample-collection process is time-consuming, only samples from two fuelling stations have been collected thus far from fuel sheds belonging to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC). He noted that the PUCSL and the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) have made preparations to expedite the process to gather samples from 12 pre-selected fuelling stations within the Colombo District in the upcoming week.  “Since the most populated fuel stations are within the Colombo District, we commenced the project from the Colombo area last Thursday (29 September). It’s a very time-consuming process that takes about three to four hours per filling station, which also requires the ITI to assemble at the sampling point. Therefore, their availability must also be considered when working out the schedule, which is why we have only been able to cover two sheds thus far.  “We have already decided when and which fuel sheds we will be covering. However, islandwide samples will be completed by 22 or 23 November. The sampling and testing processes are very expensive so we have to be careful and manage our resources carefully.” Wijesuriya further stated that while results of the samples collected could be produced in two weeks, it may be subject to change.  “For instance, once we carry out a test and see that the result deviates from that which is expected, we are compelled to carry out further testing to determine the cause of the deviation. It’s a time-consuming process, but we should be able to have it ready in two weeks. Once the results are ready, they will be handed over to the Ministry of Power and Energy.” He further noted that the ITI was selected for this project by the PUCSL as opposed to the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd. (CPSTL) to ensure transparency of results, with ITI functioning as an independent body. “We came to an agreement with the ITI to function as an independent body when testing the samples. At the moment, all fuel testing takes place at CPSTL, which is a joint venture of the CPC and LIOC. We needed an independent body to test these samples so that we can be certain of the transparency of the results.” Speaking further, he also stated that apart from the quantity and quality checks that are carried out, the PUCSL will also inspect the environment of the fuelling stations to ensure that they uphold the expected standards. “With the rains over the past few months, we received a lot of complaints about water contamination in fuel, as rainwater had seeped into tanks at filling stations. This could never occur if they had maintained their standards. They should ideally look into these matters before putting up the filling station, but sometimes the management deviates from the agreement. We have to ensure that they adhere to the agreed conditions. This is not in the jurisdiction of the PUCSL as a regulator, but we will ensure that they have extra pressure from our end as well.” Speaking on the quantity of fuel issued at fuel filling stations, Wijesuriya noted that tests on the same conducted at filling stations last Friday (30 October) – the second day of the project – found no malpractices in the issuance of fuel to consumers.  Speaking to The Morning regarding this, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said: “The message has been conveyed to all fuel filling stations. All we want is to discipline the traders by discussing this issue openly unlike in other raids. And we have got instant results.” Last Thursday (29 September), the PUCSL sealed two 92-Octane petrol dispensing machines at a CPC-owned filling station in Colombo 7 due to a short delivery. The project on the quality and quantity tests at fuel filling stations was launched following multiple complaints made to the PUCSL by petroleum consumers. He further noted that the ITI was selected for this project by the PUCSL as opposed to the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd. (CPSTL) to ensure transparency of results, with ITI functioning as an independent body. “We came to an agreement with the ITI to function as an independent body when testing the samples. At the moment, all fuel testing takes place at CPSTL, which is a joint venture of the CPC and LIOC. We needed an independent body to test these samples so that we can be certain of the transparency of the results.” Speaking further, he also stated that apart from the quantity and quality checks that are carried out, the PUCSL will also inspect the environment of the fuelling stations to ensure that they uphold the expected standards. “With the rains over the past few months, we received a lot of complaints about water contamination in fuel, as rainwater had seeped into tanks at filling stations. This could never occur if they had maintained their standards. They should ideally look into these matters before putting up the filling station, but sometimes the management deviates from the agreement. We have to ensure that they adhere to the agreed conditions. This is not in the jurisdiction of the PUCSL as a regulator, but we will ensure that they have extra pressure from our end as well.” Speaking on the quantity of fuel issued at fuel filling stations, Wijesuriya noted that tests on the same conducted at filling stations last Friday (30 October) – the second day of the project – found no malpractices in the issuance of fuel to consumers.  Speaking to The Morning regarding this, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said: “The message has been conveyed to all fuel filling stations. All we want is to discipline the traders by discussing this issue openly unlike in other raids. And we have got instant results.” Last Thursday (29 September), the PUCSL sealed two 92-Octane petrol dispensing machines at a CPC-owned filling station in Colombo 7 due to a short delivery. The project on the quality and quantity tests at fuelling stations was launched following multiple complaints made to the PUCSL by petroleum consumers.