Minister of Energy Kanchana Wijesekera has instructed the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited to immediately open registrations for new suppliers to transport fuel.
The Minister has also issued directives to cancel the registration of suppliers who fail to report to duty.
The Minister said trains, government-owned bowsers, fuel station-owned bowsers, and private and hired bowsers that are not on strike will continue services.
The Minister informed that a total of 381 bowsers were used to distribute fuel as of 4pm yesterday.
He noted that 84 government-owned bowsers, 103 fuel station bowsers, and 194 hired bowsers are not engaged in the strike.
Minister Wijesekera said sufficient auto diesel, super diesel, 92 Octane petrol, and kerosene oil have been released to fuel stations and are in stock.
However, the Energy Minister said 95 Octane petrol is limited.
The Minister taking to Twitter yesterday revealed that fuel transportation is conducted by three sectors, government-owned, fuel station-owned, and hired bowsers.
He noted that rates for hired bowsers have been adjusted five times since July 2021, an increase of 84% according to a formula agreed by all.
The Minister claimed that in the event the private-hired bowsers engage in a strike, the government will resort to using bowsers of the other two sectors for deliveries.
