The Sapugaskanda oil refinery will have to be closed atleast for 50 days, Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila announced today.
Minister said that there will be no fuel shortage in the country despite closing down the refinery.
“This will be resolved upon sorting the foreign exchange crisis and till then the Sapugaskanda oil refinery will have to be closed atleast for 50 days” Minister Gammanpila said.
Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila added that decision was taken in order to manage the limited foreign reserves to import essential items to the country.
Ceylon Petroleum Corporation’s Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya Secretary Ananda Palitha said that this will be the first time in history that Sapugaskanda oil refinery will be closed due to a shortage of crude oil.
“Total kerosine needed to the country was manufactured by Sapugaskanda oil refinery, there will be shortage of kerosine in the country” he added.
However, Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal said that there are sufficient fuel reserves for another few weeks in the country.
“Our storage consists of diesel and petrol stocks, which are sufficient for a maximum of twelve days. The ordered oil shipments are on the way. If there is a shortage of kerosene, we will take immediate measures to import” Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal Chairman Mohamed Uwais had told the Daily Mirror newspaper. (NewsWire)