October 06, Colombo (LNW): Fuel transporters have appealed to motorists to remain calm and avoid stockpiling fuel, insisting that the country is not facing an actual shortage or interruption in supplies.
Ceylon Petroleum Private Tanker Owners Association (CPPTOA) Chairman A.M.H. Adhikari said the queues reported at several filling stations were largely linked to delays in placing fuel orders rather than a lack of petroleum products.
He said the association was also seeking changes to the existing formula used to calculate transportation commissions. According to Adhikari, the current system does not adequately cover additional transport costs incurred when supplying fuel to areas in the Southern and Upcountry regions.
The association has already submitted a proposal on the matter, with discussions under way to amend the formula and include the outstanding components, he said.
Meanwhile, Energy Minister Anura Karunathilake told Parliament that fuel queues were expected to ease by Wednesday or Thursday as distribution returned to normal.
The Minister attributed the sudden increase in queues partly to the suspension of fuel distribution on Sunday. He also acknowledged that some private fuel companies had reduced the quantities being supplied, citing financial losses associated with fuel sales.
The Energy Ministry has instructed private operators to maintain sufficient stocks and prevent disruptions to consumers, according to the Minister.
However, Karunathilake noted that the Government’s ability to directly compel private fuel companies to increase supplies is limited by the terms of the agreements governing their operations.
