Government scraps QR Code system for fuel: Minister

• Sapugaskanda refinery to close  for one month from Sept. 18 for  maintenance 

After one year, the government scrapped yesterday the QR code system  introduced for fuel trade in the retail market, enabling motorists to  pump at will at the filling stations, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana  Wijesekera said.   

The minister told a news conference that the filling  stations would not, however, issue fuel in cans to people in a bid to  avoid stockpiling.

 He also said the QR code would be used by the  petroleum authorities for management purposes.  
“There is no requirement for motorists to pump under the QR  quota system. Still, we will use it for stock management purposes. We  will use it to monitor the amount of fuel released and all,” he said.   
Commenting on the latest fuel price revision, he said it had to be done in keeping the spikes in the world market.   
“Fuel prices that was US $ 80- 85 a barrel have now  increased to US $ 100-110 a barrel in the world market. That is the flat  rate,” he said.   

Also, he said the Sapugaskanda oil refinery would be closed  for one month starting from September 18 for essential maintenance  work, but sufficient fuel stocks would be imported to avoid any  shortage.