Contaminated jet fuel: no loss to CPC

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

There is no loss to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) due to the import of jet fuel that was found to be contaminated since this jet fuel will be used as kerosene, said CPC chairman Dayananda Vidanagamachchi.

“A stock of 7,500 metric tons imported from British Petroleum in Singapore was found to be of low quality. The CPC has decided to use them as kerosene. Prices of both jet oil and kerosene are the same in the international market and a quarter US dollar discount was given per barrel for the stock of 7,500 metric tons,” said the chairman.

He said jet fuel and kerosene are dual active fuels in the same group and jet fuel is produced by refining kerosene further. “Though kerosene cannot be used as aviation fuel, aviation fuel can be used as kerosene. So there is no problem of using that stock as kerosene.”

“The CPC had taken measures to limit kerosene production and enhance jet oil production as there was a delay in receiving jet oil from the above- mentioned company. The stock of 7,500 metric tons of jet fuel can be used to fill the kerosene requirement,” Vidanagamachchi said.

He said if the CPC rejected the 7,500 metric tons of contaminated jet fuel stocks, they will have to reject the entire 20,000 metric tons. “If we did that there will be a shortage of jet oil in the country and we will not be able to supply jet oil properly.”

“All decisions regarding the jet oil stock have been taken based on the the approval of the procurement committee and the tender process. The CPC will submit a report on this matter to Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha today,” he said.