The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and Litro Gas Terminal Lanka (Pvt.) Limited yesterday signed a lease agreement for the liquid petroleum gas (LPG) facility of the tank farm at Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (MRMRP) for a period of 10 years.

Litro Gas is the largest importer and supplier of LP gas in Sri Lanka. The country produces approximately 10 percent of its internal demand for LPG and depends on imported LPG to bridge the gap between the demand and production.

The SLPA has constructed 14 fuel tanks with all necessary facilities for storing bunkering fuel, aviation fuel and LPG under the tank farm and bunkering facility project at MRMRP for an approximate cost of US$100 million.

This includes US $ 76 million project for tanks facilities funded by Export and Import Bank of China and US $ 20 million project for infrastructure funded by Bank of Ceylon. Out of the above 14 tanks, three tanks with the capacity of 6000 m3 were constructed for storing LPG.

The SLPA officials discussed with Litro Gas Terminal Lanka (Pvt.) Limited, based on a proposal submitted by them, to lease the LPG tank facility at MRMRP, which includes three tanks, an administration building with other common user facilities including loading arms and pipelines.

The LPG facility is intended to be leased out to Litro Gas Terminal Lanka (Pvt.) Limited for a term of 10 years.