Installation of the new oil pipeline: 20,000 MT of fuel can be pumped in three days: CPC

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama and Mahinda Nissanka  

Approximately 20,000 metric tonnes of jet fuel could be pumped from ships after completing the installation of the new oil pipeline connecting the Colombo Port to the storage terminal of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) in Kolonnawa, Treasurer of the CPC Executive Officers’ Union Manu Jayawardene said.   

Speaking to the Daily Mirror he said the laying of the fuel carrying pipes had been completed by last Saturday (20) and the first fuel pumping exercise was carried out successfully by engineers last Saturday.   

The last section of the 140-metre long pipeline had been completed on July 10 and inspections done July 18 after which the pumping of fuel began, he said.   

“Before the renovation of the pipeline, it took a week to pump out jet fuel from a ship and now it takes a maximum three days. From this exercise the government would be able to earn a revenue of between Rs.700 mn and Rs.900 mn,” Mr. Jayawardene added.