The newly-appointed Minister of Energy Gamini Lokuge has assured the current fuel crisis in Sri Lanka will be resolved in the next two days.
Speaking to reporters after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, the Minister said all fuel stations currently are in stock of necessary diesel and petrol.
Stating that arrangements have been made to obtain and distribute more fuel, he said the delivery is due tomorrow (09) or the day after.
Minister Lokuge further said following the delivery, fuel queues will completely end by tomorrow or Thursday (10).
Commenting on the soaring fuel prices in the world market, he revealed that more money has to be paid for fuel with the increase of fuel price in the world market mainly due to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
“The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) will incur a loss of over Rs. 80 per litre from diesel alone due to the current price provided at fuel stations. This is due to the unprecedented increase in fuel prices,” the Minister explained.
Pointing out that CPC officials had distributed necessary fuel stocks to all fuel stations over the weekend, he said at present there are no petrol queues at most filling stations, adding that both petrol 92 and 95 are available at most fuel stations.
The Minister of Energy said the CPC is also working to increase fuel production at the Sapugaskanda refinery which is currently operating at a lower capacity.
He also revealed that another ship with 28,300 metric tonnes of diesel had arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday and the unloading of fuel is scheduled to commence today.
Thereby, the fuel crisis in the country will be resolved in the next two days, the Minister added. (NewsWire)
