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New mobile equipment to check fuel imports on arrival
View(s):Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa told the Sunday Times that mobile equipment to quality check fuel imports, have been ordered.
“This equipment will enable us expedite the process as soon as the shipment arrives,” Mr Yapa said.
The moves come after Lanka-India Oil Company (LIOC) reportedly imported substandard fuel.
LIOC Managing Director Subodh Dakwale told the Sunday Times that, on February 8, the LIOC, about to unload 5,000 tons of diesel and 26,000 tons of petrol, stopped unloading the diesel stock, when laboratory tests revealed it was of low quality.
On Thursday, following a petition filed by the LIOC, seeking compensation of US$ 2.5 million for the loss incurred, the Commercial High Court ordered the immediate seizure of the ship – Vina Lion’s Glory for transporting substandard diesel which had been contaminated during transportation.
Secretary of the CPC arm of the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya, Ananda Palitha alleged that the Petroleum Ministry had allowed the ship to proceed to Trincomalee harbour, without detaining it in Colombo, even though the CPC’s Kolonnawa laboratory tests confirmed contamination of the fuel.
However, Mr. Dakwale told the Sunday Times that the oil shipped from Singapore was tested and cleared by Singaporean authorities, while acknowledging that the Kolonnawa lab tests revealed the diesel not conforming to specified standards.
Meanwhile, part of the petrol consignment cleared by tests, was unloaded in Colombo, and the balance petrol unloaded at Trincomalee harbour, after passing tests conducted at the respective LIOC labs by government authorities.Mr Dakwale confirmed the release of these petrol stocks to the market, with no complaints from motorists to date.
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