CPSTL installs aviation fuel filtration unit

• Believes the new unit will be able to save $300,000 from one vessel of aviation fuel

Petroleum Resources Development Minister Arjuna Ranatunga recently declared open an aviation fuel filtration unit that is expected to allow Sri Lanka to confirm the quality of its aviation fuel and enable the country to obtain huge monetary profits.

The Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal (CPSTL) successfully installed the unit that had been neglected for 17 years, following several recommendations by the Joint Inspection Group (JIG).

“We will be able to call competitive prices to import aviation fuel now. This unit saves $300,000 by one vessel of aviation fuel. We would be able to confirm the quality of the aviation fuel and we will be able to obtain huge monetary profits by this,” CPC and CPSTL Chairman Dammika Ranatunga said.

According to Ranatunga, there was no aviation fuel filtration unit to pump fuel into train tanks in Kolonnawa. “CPSTL had to state in the documents about the unavailability of an aviation fuel filtration unit when they prepared specifications. Following this, we had to import aviation fuel at a higher price, because the suppliers had offered higher bids to supply aviation fuel. We do not further require importing aviation fuel at higher prices,” he said.  The Chairman added: “According to the JIG reports, Sri Lanka has achieved a ‘good’ position in the supply of aviation fuel and we will be able to rise to the ‘excellent’ position through this project.” 

JIG is an internationally recognised institution functioning mainly to inspect standard methods and quality tests of pumping aviation fuel. 

Following the recommendation, documentation was initiated in June, 2017. Ranatunga believes CPTSL will be able to save around $200,000 to $300,000 from one vessel of aviation fuel.  The filtration unit was constructed by CPSTL engineers, and was completed ahead of schedule. Parallel to this unit, two pumps with a capacity of 136 cubic metres per hour was installed. The CPSTL stated that they will be able to speed up the filling process with the new pumps.