The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has decided to dispense limited volumes of fuel from Ceypetco filling stations to vehicles starting from today July 25, based on the last digit of the vehicle number plate and QR code system, Ceypetco sources said.
Fuel pumping at 1236 Ceylon Petroleum Corporation fuel filling stations countrywide will begin today using the new system a high ranking CPC official said.
Over 1 million motorists have already registered with the new system which will take several days for the proper operation of the system in a streamlined manner , he revealed.
According to the Ministry of Energy, Ceypetco filling stations will only pump fuel worth Rs. 1,500 for motorcycles at a single time.
For three-wheelers, the limit has been set at Rs. 2,000 worth of fuel. The maximum amount of fuel allowed to be dispensed to other vehicles stands at Rs. 7,000.
At present the Ceylon Petrolium Corportraion Terminal Limited(CPSTL) is distributing 3000MT of petrol and4000 MT of diselt to furl filling stations countrywide.
CPC has no money to import fuel from next month and the treasury or the Central Bank cannot pump money due to dollar shortage.
Therefore only a limited supply to prol sheds will be continuing making the numbering system and QR code ineffective in controlling large numbers of motorists in queues for fuel , CPC official sources said.
Sri Lanka will receive one more fuel consignment this month and another in August, the Chairman of Lanka IOC Manoj Gupta , said adding that it will provide much-needed relief to the people facing an unprecedented economic crisis and acute fuel shortages.
Two consignments of fuel (petrol and diesel) have already arrived on July 13 or 14, and another shipment will arrive sometime between July 28 to 30. Each vessel will be carrying 30,000 metric tonnes of fuel, he revealed.
Another consignment is also scheduled to arrive on August 10, Gupta said adding that these shipments will be arriving from Singapore and the UAE.
Last week, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) informed the Sri Lankan government that there will be an indefinite delay in the arrival of fuel shipments due to banking and logistical reasons, with existing stocks being prioritized for public transport, power generation and industries.
Meanwhile the power supply in the country is also in critical condition. Kelanitiss combined cycle power plant has closed down since Friday and other thermalwerplants will have to shut down due to lack of diesel ,naptha and furnace oil.
Under this set up 40 percent of the country’s power demand is being met by hydropower plants 34 percent by Norochcholai coal power plant and the balance by renewable energy sources, Ceylon Electricity Board spokesman Andrew Navamini disclosed.
