Energy Minister unveils new guidelines for fuel transport

Minister of Power and Energy Kanchan Wijesekera today announced that several new guidelines have been implemented for the transportation of fuel in the country.

In a twitter message, the minister said that a decision has been taken to increase the capacity of fuel transportation via train to rural depots from 40% to 100%. These new guidelines come in the wake of the decision taken by the Ceylon Petroleum Private Tanker Owners’ Association to withdraw from fuel transportation activities from midnight yesterday (April 30), demanding an increase in their tariffs.

However, taking to twitter last night, the Energy Minister said alternative methods are in place to continue the fuel distribution without interruption if private bowser owners withdraw from services. Trains, government-owned, fuel station-owned and privately-hired bowsers that are not on strike will continue the fuel distribution services, he added.

In response to this, the Joint Secretary of the Ceylon Petroleum Private Tanker Owners’ Association Mr. Shantha Silva said he believes that the minister has been misled by the officials as it takes at least 06 months to obtain a license and put fuel bowsers into operation.