100 fuel stations outside CPC and LIOC purview in dilapidated state
An old issue of 100 petroleum stations which got ‘lost’ in its ownership when Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) came into the local retail trade more than 10 years ago, was resurrected last week.
At the 44th AGM of the Petroleum Dealers Association held in Colombo, some petroleum dealers urged the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) to hand back the properties as these buildings are dilapidated due to disrepair.
It was pointed out that some of these buildings are more than 80 years old and were crumbling and was no place to carry out a reasonable and environment-friendly business. When the Government decided in 2002 to hand over a portion of the 350 sheds owned by the CPC, 100 were handed over to the LankaIOC while another 100 were earmarked for another operator. The CPC kept the balance 250 sheds.
However the 100 sheds planned to go under privatisation never happened, and the existing dealers continued to operate them. The CPC ramped up its 250 sheds to stay in completion with the LIOC which invested millions of rupees to transform these fuel stations to what is seen today.
In this process, the 100 sheds earmarked for privatisation was not maintained by anyone other than the dealers though it still belonged to the CPC. All the sheds were owned by private individuals prior to the nationalisation of the petrol stations in 1961.
Meanwhile Chaminda Weerakkody, Minister of Petroleum Resources Development, Chief Guest at this AGM, said he would consider a request to increase their commission by at least 5 per cent.
In his speech, Mr. Weerakkody spoke of the long lasting peace in the country, good governance, the establishment of rule of law and its independence and transparency. He said that in the scheme for reviving fuel pumping stations owned by the Cooperative Societies, the first one was revived in Polonnaruwa followed by Galle and Ampara.
He said that they would be reviving defunct fuel pumping stations owned by the Cooperative Societies, one from each district. He said that in West Asia some refinery workers draw salaries equivalent to Rs. 2 million and what Sri Lanka does is to send 50 house maids to those countries to earn that much of money (per month). The authorities need to take action to commence training such type of refinery workers, he said enabling them to earn that much of money.
‘Card-not-cash’ payments soon at fuel stations
The Government is planning to introduce a card-not-cash payment scheme at all fuel stations to deter burglars.
Explaining this, Chaminda Weerakkody, Minister of Petroleum Resources Development, told petroleum dealers at a recent meeting that they would be popularising the ‘Card System’ instead of cash to prevent burglaries at fuel stations. Other developments are modern pumping devices and ensuring that all the amenities at the fuel stations such as washroom facilities, etc are available to users. Fuel stations are also to be encouraged to have a shopping mall.
This, the minister said, is in the context of modernising the petroleum industry in Sri Lanka and upgrading the fuel distribution throughout the country.