ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka is inviting companies with capacity including marine bunker companies to provide aviation fuel at the country’s airports Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said as the country is in the grip of a severe currency collapse.
The Ministry of Power and Energy had earlier finalized a company from half a dozen who made proposals and gave it the go ahead to supply Jet fuel but the firm had been unable to deliver so far, he said.
Sri Lanka will not cancel the award, but we want to give other companies also the chance to supply Jet-A 1, he said.
Lanka IOC, a unit of Indian Oil Corporation also had the opportunity to enter the business if it wanted to, he said.
State-run SriLankan Airlines has also been given permission to import fuel, he said.
SriLanka Airlines was getting fuels for some long haul flights from India and most airlines flying to Colombo are ‘tankering’ or bringing extra fuel for the return journey.
Sri Lanka is in the grip of the worst currency crises triggered by the island’s soft-pegged central bank in its 72 year history. (Colombo/June26/2022)