No imminent fuel shortage: Minister

While assuring that there would not be a fuel shortage in the country as there were sufficient fuel stocks for 30 days, Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadarsha Yapa today said the buoy which was damaged is being repaired by local and foreign experts

“We have a sufficient fuel stock for 30 days and there will be no imminent fuel shortage in the country even though the refinery was closed due to the damage of the buoy which carries crude oil to the refinery from the ship. We import 2/3 of our refined oil needs directly which is more than the refined oil produced in our refinery. So there is no threat of fuel shortage in the country. We can cater to all fuel needs like petrol, diesel, and kerosene. However we will have to import some quantity of refined oil if it takes more than two to three weeks to repair the buoy,” Mr. Yapa said.

He said that the engineers and divers were making every effort to repair the damaged hose pipe and it had been a hard work due to the rough sea condition.

” We are currently engaged in repairing the buoy. The Italian company from which we bought the rubber hose also had come to Sri Lanka and it has a three year warranty as well. We are discussing about the possibility of taking legal action against the company. It should be done according to the contract. But we have to identify the cause of the burst of the hose first, Mr. Yapa said.

Mr. Yapa said that the ministry was studying about an alternative- Ship to Ship transfer until the damaged buoy was repaired. “We are now trying to resort to an alternative called Ship to Ship transfer until the buoy was repaired. And we trying to organize a ship for that at the moment,” he said.

Minister Yapa assured that they would be able to resume the operations of the refinery within ten days time. (Ajith Siriwardana)