15 August 2016 12:01 am
By Supun Dias
The government is all set to call for fresh international tenders in order to re-lay the strategic oil pipeline from Colombo Port to the Kolonnawa storage facility, Petroleum and Petroleum Gas Minister Chandima Weerakkody said.
Accordingly, the government has decided to call for an open international tender for the selection of a suitable contractor to rebuild the pipeline network.
The 5.8 km pipeline has been causing severe headaches to the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL),
which is to prepare a study on the laying of these pipelines and the necessary infrastructure facilities.
The pipeline, which is said to be around 60 years old, has made headlines in the media in recent years due to its dilapidated state causing leaks at different points, specially in the vicinity of Orugodawatta.
Close to around 65 percent of the total petroleum demand of Sri Lanka is being fulfilled by importing refined products.
About 30 percent, out of that refined petroleum product, is unloaded to the Muthurajawela Oil Terminal and the balance is being unloaded to Kolonnawa Oil Terminal.