Trade unions say statements made by the Minister of Energy Gamini Lokuge claiming there are no concerns pertaining to the quality of fuel stocks are completely false.
Speaking to NewsRadio, trade unionist Ananda Palitha said the reason for high fuel consumption at present is low mileages.
Palitha said Minister Lokuge’s statement as the Energy Minister and statements during his tenure as the Minister of Power were unreliable and baseless.
He said all claims by the Minister since taking over the Energy portfolio on the 7th of March have been proven false.
The trade unionist said the Minister claimed scheduled power cuts will not be imposed adding that 10-hour power cuts are being imposed today.
He added the Minister also claimed the fuel queues will reduce adding however queues only increased.
Palitha noted that Energy Minister acknowledged there was an unprecedented increase in the demand for fuel adding however no new vehicles have been imported for nearly two years while large-scale factories were not established and neither has the Ceylon Electricity Board received fuel for power generation.
He, therefore, questioned the reason behind the prevailing high demand for fuel.
The trade unionist said everyone from school van drivers, bus operators, motorcyclists observed that mileages on a litre of fuel have reduced.
Issuing a scientific explanation over substandard fuel stocks, Ananda Palitha said it is common knowledge that more fuel is consumed when the density is low.
Palitha said reports from the testing facilities at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals in Kolonnawa are unreliable since both institutions have previously purchased substandard petrol, diesel, and jet fuel.
The trade unionist said the government must provide technical answers to the public as consumers are facing difficulties due to high fuel consumption and low mileages.
