SLPA says bunker fuel for Hambantota Terminal opening was from BP

Monday, 30 June 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reiterates new port’s aim to be a bunkering hub with world class standards, best practices will be a reality
Says for SLPA tender all suppliers including those presently offering to Colombo, CPC and LIOC had participated
Magampura Port Management Company guarantees bunker fuel at Hambantota port meets the stringent quality requirements of the industry

Sri Lanka Ports Authority on Friday said it was sticking to best practices in making Hambantota port a bunkering hub in the region. It also said that bunkering purchased for the inaugural operations was from BP Singapore. These and several other statements were made by SLPA in response to the Daily FT article titled ‘Questions over bunker fuel deal at Magampura Port’ which appeared in the Shipping Page last week.

We categorically deny the contents of this article written with malicious intent in tarnishing our image as the newest entrant to the bunker business in the region. The spreading of false rumours is purely to discredit our company, since the Magampura Port Management Company Ltd. (MPMC) has exclusive rights to operate the tank farm and bunkering facility at Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (MRMR). It is no secret that MRMR port is uniquely situated in one of the busiest waterways in the world which has the potential to dominate the sea lanes. There has been overwhelming interest in the activities of this port and the grand opening of the bunkering and tank farm facility on Sunday bear testimony to it with the participation and the representation by the major shipping companies in the world. One of the objectives at MPMC is to be the leading bunkering port in the region and to project Hambantota not only as a world class port but to demonstrate its ability to do business to world class standards. Hence we shall resolutely pursue our objectives in accomplishing them. With regards to the particular parcel in subject, MPMC called for offers to supply fuel to MPMC and all suppliers, including suppliers presently offering to Colombo, CPC and LIOC participated. The subject parcel was shipped by an Oil Major, BP Singapore which has been ranked as the number one bunker fuel supplier in Singapore for 12 consecutive years. The products were loaded from their own storage tanks at Tankstore Terminal, which is one of the largest petroleum product storages facilities in Singapore. The products were shipped on board a tanker owned and operated by TORM tankers of Denmark which is also a highly reputed tanker company in the world. Hence the credibility of the source, supplier,

storage and transporter is well established and the quality of the products have been tested at all points of the supply chain in Singapore by independent laboratories belonging to ‘Intertek’ and ‘Geo-Chem’ and at the Ceypetco Laboratory in Sri Lanka. Hence we guarantee that our products meet the stringent quality requirements of the bunker fuels and we will provide with quality reports of each and every tank the products are stored prior to the supply. We firmly believe that the precedence has been set by MPMC in the way we operate and will change the way business is done with the outside world in keeping with the international standards of the industry. MPMC, as a private company, has recruited qualified staff in operating and maintaining the tank farm facility, the laboratory, waste oil treatment plant, bunkering operations and the workshops and will continue to employ additional staff as and when required in keeping with the highest standards and practices of the industry.