Reversal of QR top-up day to save Rs. 30 m fuel monthly: Minister

Saturday, 11 March 2023 00:55 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

CPC fuel sales drop amidst economic downturn

The reversal of the weekly top-up day for the National Fuel Pass QR Quota from Sunday to Tuesday will save around Rs. 30 million monthly, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera revealed yesterday.

Taking to Twitter he said the direct cost of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd. (CPSTL) Kolonnawa, Muthurajawela and 11 regional depots every Sunday for a month is Rs. 19.5 million, whilst the indirect cost is around Rs. 10 million.

Separately, the Minister said CPC has witnessed a significant drop in fuel demand in January 2023, compared to a year earlier.

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera taking to Twitter said the retail and industrial fuel sales of the CPC auto diesel have dropped by 50% whilst petrol sales have plunged by 30% in January year-on-year.

He also noted that kerosene sales have dropped by 70% YoY.

The data also shows that the average daily sales have dropped remarkably, given the economic downturn.