'Some TUs conspiring to sabotage petroleum industry'

Ishara Mudugamuwa

Some Trade Unions allied to the opposition are engaged in a conspiracy to sabotage the country's petroleum industry, Petroleum Industries Ministry sources said yesterday.

"These trade unions are unhappy as they were unable to fulfill their wishes as the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) took immediate steps to restart the oil refinery process at the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery," the sources said.

"Some opposition trade unions tried to create an artificial fuel shortage in the country when economic sanctions were imposed against Iran by the US preventing oil importation from Iran," the sources said.

The CPC or even the government cannot control the delivery of Iranian crude oil. The Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery is more suitable for Iranian light crude oil. Due to economic sanctions imposed on Iran, CPC had to face various problems in importing crude oil. These trade unions which are aware of the prevailing situation, are continuously spreading rumours, the sources said.

The Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery was temporarily shut down due to the non delivery of crude oil. CPC solved this problem within a short period as they were able to import 155,000 Metric Tons of crude oil from Dubai. Rumours were then spread that CPC signed a secret agreement with a crude oil supplying company, the sources said.

The CPC has not signed any agreement with these companies. All oil purchases were carried out under a government approved tender procedure, the sources said.