Sri Lanka’s fuel crisis now turned bad to worse is to be tackled to certain extent with the arrival of eight ships carrying petroleum will arrive in the island next week and the introduction of a special pass to ration petrol and diesel usage
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) says that three ships each carrying between 30,000 and 40,000 metric tons of diesel will arrive in Sri Lanka on the 17th and 23rd of July.
Another two ships carrying petrol are also scheduled to arrive in the island next week. The CPCdisclosed adding that payment for all the shipments has already been made.
Lanka IOC, the Sri Lankan subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation said that another three ships carrying fuel are also scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on those dates.
The agencies say that after the distribution of the fuel stocks, the current situation near the fuel stations will return to normal.
Even now, around one hundred tankers have been deployed for fuel distribution activities.
The Ceylon Petroleum Private Tanker Owners’ Association said with the receipt of the fuel stock, it is expected to distribute fuel 24 hours a day in collaboration with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.
Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said steps have been taken to introduce a fuel dispensing program using a QR code as a solution to the fuel crisis and providing fuel to the public in an orderly manner.
National Fuel Pass was developed with the assistance of leading Tech companies in Sri Lanka and the Institute of Communication and Information Technology (ICTA) without any cost to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) or the government, the Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera revealed.
The public can register on the website fuelpass.gov.lk to get the ‘National Fuel Pass’ but it has crashed after the launching but it is now under readustmenbts , ministry official said.
The program was launched with the technical support of the Sri Lanka Institute of Communication and Information Technology (ICTA) with the aim of easing fuel queues.
Accordingly, a person may register one vehicle under his National Identity Card Number, Passport Number or Business Registration Number. In addition, some other information such as name, address, phone number, used vehicle etc. should also be submitted.
The QR code obtained after registration must be presented to get fuel. The QR code can be saved as a screenshot on one’s mobile phone. Those without a smartphone can keep a printout of the QR code with them.
The minister emphasized that this is the only permit given by the government to the people to buy fuel not only from Ceylon Petroleum Corporation petrol stations but also from Lanka IOC petrol station
