New token system to reduce congestion at fuel stations, as uncertainty on fuel shipments continue

The Government is to introduce a new token system for those waiting in fuel queues in a fresh attempt to ease congestion at petrol sheds in accordance to a decision taken by the Security Council,  Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekara said today.

The Minister told a news conference that the security forces will help to implement the system where persons will need to give their contact number and collect their token number and leave. In turn they will be informed when fuel stocks arrive.

He said that the measure was aimed at preventing people from unnecessarily staying in queues for long hours.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister Wijesekara are due to meet today evening to discuss further measures to ease the situation regarding fuel.

Minister Wijesekara said uncertainty continued over fuel shipments with the refusal of some of the suppliers refusing to accept guarantees provided.

He explained in detail various measures taken to provide fuel and the delays.

Meanwhile he said that the Indian IOC has requested permission to operate 50 more fuel stations and in turn Sri Lanka has asked them to import more stocks. He said that the government was inviting others who could operate fuel sheds in Sri Lanka.

Providing an update on fuel stocks, he noted that the CPC has 9000 Mt of Diesel and the IOC 10,000 Mt while the CPC has about 6000 of Petrol and the IOC about 8000 Mts.

He said the IOC was issuing about 300 Mts per day and their next shipment was due only after July 10.

The moves came as the government increased fuel prices with effect from this morning.  Petrol (Octane 92) now sells at Rs 470 per litre and Rs 550 per Lt for Octane 95.  The Auto Diesel price per liter is Rs 460 and Super Diesel at Rs 520 per liter.