Minister says have petrol but diesel prioritised for electricity
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says Sri Lanka has enough petrol but the diesel stocks have been prioritised for electricity generation.
Speaking in Parliament today, Wijesekera said that there is no shortage of petrol in the market.
He said that more petrol had been dispatched to fuel sheds yesterday.
However, he said that while there are diesel stocks it has been prioritised for electricity generation.
The Minister said that a policy decision had been taken to give more diesel for electricity generation.
He said the decision was taken as a result of the breakdown at the Norochcholai coal power plant.
The Minister also said that Sri Lanka is negotiating with a number of countries, including Russia, to address the fuel crisis.
Wijesekera also said that suspending the operations of the Sapugaskanda oil refinery was a mistake.
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) had suspended operations at the Sapugaskanda oil refinery as there was no crude oil to refine.
The Sapugaskanda oil refinery had been shut a number of times over the past few months owing to the fuel and dollar crisis. (Colombo Gazette)
