The Sapugaskanda oil refinery will recommence work on Monday, the 15th of August, Minister of Energy Kanchana Wijesekera announced today.
Addressing Parliament today, he said the oil refinery will resume operations as a crude oil tanker is expected to arrive at the Colombo Port on Saturday, the 13th of August.
Minister Wijesekera further said that thereafter, kerosene oil will be distributed for sectors including fisheries continuously from Friday, the 19th of August.
The government’s attention has also been drawn toward a revision to the price of kerosene.
The Minister said by providing kerosene for Rs. 87 per litre there are issues in managing the supply and demand, adding that therefore a price revision is being considered.
The supply of kerosene was halted due to the suspension of the operations of the Sapugaskanda refinery. Thereby, 4 weeks’ worth of kerosene supply had been halted. However, a limited stock of kerosene was supplied to the fisheries and ports sectors, he said.
Stating that a crude oil tanker is expected to arrive this weekend, he said that the second vessel is expected to arrive on the 29th of August.
“We expect the oil refinery to commence operations by 15th August. After two or three days since starting operations, we hope to commence producing kerosene. Thereafter, from 19th August we hope to continuously supply kerosene,” he explained. (NewsWire)