Sri Lanka builds new fuel storage tanks following recent fuel crisis

2017-12-23 05:13:24

(MENAFN- NewsIn.Asia) Colombo, Dec 23 (newsin.asia) - Sri Lanka's state-owned petroleum refiner Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has began building new fuel storage tanks with the aim of doubling storage capacity after a recent petroleum shortage plunged the island into a fuel crisis, local media reported Saturday.

Petroleum Minister, Arjuna Ranatunga said 10 new tanks with a total capacity of 11,200 metric tones was being built at a cost of Rs. 412 million with priority given to building petrol storage capacity.

Ranatunga said the new tanks being built in Kolonnawa, in the outskirts of the capital, marks the first time in 40 years that new capacity was being added there.

He said petrol consumption had almost doubled since the ethnic war ended in 2009 with demand increasing about 7 percent annually.

Sri Lanka's transport sector came to a standstill last month amidst allegations that the nation faced a severe petrol shortage.

Whilst the government maintained they had sufficient fuel stock, angry consumers were forced to line outside fuel stations for hours in order to fill up their vehicles.

Following an urgent request from the government, an oil tanker carrying 40,000 Metric Tonnes of petrol from the UAE arrived in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo on Nov 9, ending days of a possible shortage.

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