Sri Lanka’s solo refinery to resume operation after 2-month closure – minister

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s only refinery will resume its operation with the unloading of a crude shipment on Friday (27), the Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said as the island nation is the process of recovering from a severe fuel shortage.

The Iran-built, 53-year old Sapugaskanda refinery with 50,000 barrel-per-day capacity was closed due to lack of crude after the country was unable to import it amid severe shortage of dollars.

Sapugaskanda Refinery will commence operations for first time since March 20th with a Crude Oil cargo unloading tomorrow,” the minister said in his twitter feed.

“The refinery will start producing Fuel Oil in 6 days.”

The minister also said as of May 26, Sri Lanka poses 23,022 metric tonnes of of diesel stock, 2,588 metric tonnes of super diesel,  39,968  metric tonnes of Octane 92, 7,112 metric tonnes of Octane 95, and 3,578 metric tonnes of jet fuel.

Sapugaskanda Refinery will commence operations for first time since March 20th with a Crude Oil cargo unloading tomo. The refinery will start producing Fuel Oil in 6 days. Stocks on 26 May –
Diesel 23022 MT, Sup Diesel 2588 MT, 92 Pet 39968 MT, 95 Pet 7112 MT and JETA1 3578 MT

— Kanchana Wijesekera (@kanchana_wij) May 26, 2022

Sri Lanka’s severe fuel shortage has resulted in motorists waiting in long queues and extended power cuts since February this year. (Colombo/May 26/2022)