Fuel imports meet accepted standard

After the Treasury began importing fuel and fuel production since December 03, 2008, as per order from the Supreme Court there were newspaper reports to suggest that certain fuel items recently imported were sub-standard.

The Treasury issues Letters of Credit to import fuel production only for items which meet the accepted standard set up by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. The technical officers assigned for this quality assessment are the same persons who serve in the technical committee of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. The only difference has been the inclusion of a senior officer of a State bank and an officer from the Finance and Plan Implementation Ministry.

The Procurement Committee appointed by the Cabinet to take decisions in the import of fuel by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation takes the same cause of action when it comes to fuel imports by the Treasury. The only difference has been the inclusion of a secretary of another Ministry in this procurement committee.

On the basis of Letters of Credit issued by the Treasury, the same procedure adopted earlier to ensure the quality of imported fuel is still in force. Before being shipped, an independent quality checking company carries out the inspection abroad to ensure the quality of the stock. After arrival, before being unloaded, the sample of the stock is quantity checked by the officials attached to the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal, Kolonnawa at their laboratory.

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation states that the furnace oil imported for Power Houses, mentioned in newspaper reports, were also quality checked by the same independent quality checking company before being shipped and were found to be of accepted quality. The distribution of this fuel in the country is taking place only after obtaining the standard specification certificate.

Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation further states that the samples of the fuel stock in question have been sent to a company in Singapore for a fresh and independent verification of the quality from the stock which remains insured as soon as adverse reports were received on the furnace oil stock which were issued after proper quality checking by an independent body.

Further the Petroleum Corporation has taken steps to continue the supply of furnace oil to private power houses without interruption. Accordingly, furnace oil produced from Sapugaskande oil refinery will be delivered to these power houses through the Kolonnawa Distribution Centre. The restriction of time in the delivery of fuel has also been lifted and the furnace oil is delivered in all 24 hours, the Chairman further stated.