Government says no officials punished in contaminated jet fuel fiasco

Saturday, 12 May 2012 01:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

No officials will be penalised for the purchase of 7,500 tons of contaminated jet fuel by State-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), a Government spokesman said, but a decision on the company is yet to be taken.

Cabinet Spokesman and Deputy Economic Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana told media that the report on the contaminated jet fuel, which was handed over to the Petroleum Minister Susil Premajayantha, shows no losses were incurred as a result of the purchase. “The total consignment of oil was 22,500 tons but only 7,500 tons were found to be contaminated. Therefore we discussed with the company, which gave us a concession for the sub-standard fuel, which will be processed as kerosene. So no losses were incurred,” he said.

Since there were no financial repercussions, the Minister insists that no official oversight has occurred. This sentiment was echoed by Premajayantha, who told Parliament on Thursday that no CPC official would be held accountable. However he insisted that no decision had yet been taken on action against Singapore BP that sent the consignment.

Last week the CPC received 7,500 tons of oil from a company based in Singapore that were tested as contaminated while the consignment was on its way to the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Officials expressed alarm over the possible disbursement of contaminated fuel to the planes refuelling at the country’s only international airport and called for a full inquiry.

Last year the CPC was severely criticised for distributing contaminated fuel that stalled over 2,000 vehicles around the country, resulting in the Government having to pay millions of rupees in compensation. However, no officials were punished in that instance either.