With more airlines in winter season, Minister assures no shortage of aviation fuel at BIA

Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has emphasised that a systematic process is in place to supply aviation fuel without shortage for all passenger airlines calling and departing Sri Lanka during the upcoming tourist season. 

During a meeting chaired by Minister de Silva, representatives of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), pointed out that at present, 5,600 MT of aviation fuel has been stocked at the airport bunker facility in Katunayake, 5,575 MT at the Kolonnawa Terminal and therefore, there was no shortage of aviation fuel in Sri Lanka for the next 17 days. 

A vessel carrying 30,000 MT of aviation fuel started unloading today at the Port of Colombo and this fulfils the requirement for another 65 days ahead they said. 

The Minster also emphasised that it was essential to import more quantities of aviation fuel according to the forecast increase of the number of passenger airlines during the upcoming season. 

He pointed out that the fuel importation has now been open for the private sector according to the amended Petroleum Act passed in Parliament recently. 

The Minister said that Sri Lanka Ports Authority has already started the facilitation process for private sector investors for fuel storage facilities inside the Port of Colombo and instructed the Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources Development to arrange required facilitation and approvals for the investors calling for these investments as per provisions extended by the new act.