Inferior petrol again?

Petroleum Minister says more tests will be carried out before it is unloaded

In a bid to put an end to the seemingly endless supply of contaminated fuel to Sri Lanka by foreign suppliers, Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa yesterday

We carried out our tests on the consignment of fuel which arrived from Singapore

stopped a consignment of diesel and two varieties of petrol from being pumped in to CPC storage tanks from Colombo Port.

The consignment valued at US$34 million (Rs.442 million) includes 10,000 metric tonnes of diesel, 25,000 metric tonnes of Octane 90 petrol and 5,000 metric tons of Octane 95 petrol.

“As usual we carried out our tests on the consignment of fuel which arrived from Singapore and found that two varieties of petrol were not up to the expected standard.

I have ordered another laboratory test and the report is expected tomorrow morning. If that too proves the petrol to be contaminated or not up to the required standard I will order the stock of petrol to be returned and demand the supplier – Petrol China Company to replace the consignment with a fresh stock of petrol,” the minister said.

He said the stock of diesel was up to the required standard and would be unloaded.

The minister said there was nothing wrong with the consignment of fuel when laboratory tests were done in Singapore before it was loaded and added that he had ordered a test on the questionable petrol to be carried out by two independent foreign inspectors. The minister ruled out any shortage of diesel or petrol in the local market and said the Kolonnawa oil storage facility held ample stocks for local use.