Fuel consumption remains high despite price hike: Nalinda

Colombo, June 3 (Daily Mirror) - The fuel consumption in the country has not reduced significantly despite the fuel price hike in the recent past, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday.

He told the weekly briefing to announce Cabinet decisions that fuel consumption still fluctuates around 80 to 90 percent.
The Minister said consumption of auto diesel has reduced only by 12 percent in May when compared to January this year.
"The consumption of auto diesel in January reported as 4,538 kilo litres, 4,846 kilo litres in February, 6,130 kilo litres in March, 3,988 kilo litres in April and 3,701 kilo litres in May. The consumption remains at 82 percent in May when compared to January this year," he said.
The Minister said consumption of petrol 92 remains at 87 percent in May in comparison to the consumption in January.
"Consumption of petrol 92 was 5965 kilo litres in January and it was 4,849 kilo litres in May," he said.
Jayatissa said import cost of fuel has gone up significantly over the last few months adding that only USD 186 million was spent on fuel import in January whereas it has gone up to USD 521 million in May.
He said the government is not in a position to bear the total burden of fuel imports.
The Minister said the government has ensured continuous fuel supply despite price hikes.