Sapugaskanda oil refinery to be relocated to Trincomalee

The government announced that it is considering relocating the Sapugaskanda oil refinery to Trincomalee in the future, in line with the envisaged plans to develop the Oil Tank Farm. 
“It was also decided to explore the option of relocating the Sapugaskanda oil refinery to Trincomalee in the future, with upgraded modern facilities and development of the Tank Farm,” Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera revealed. 
Accordingly, plans are afoot to float for Expressions of Interest internationally, to select a strategic investor for the joint development of the Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm, in partnership with Trinco Petroleum Terminal Ltd (TPTL).  TPTL is a joint venture between Lanka Indian Oil Company and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, which has 50-year lease rights for 61 tanks in the complex.  In addition, Sri Lanka is also in discussions with the Indian government to establish a multi-product oil pipeline, connecting Nagapattnam, the Trincomalee Tank Farm and Colombo. The Sapugaskanda refinery is the single largest oil refinery of Sri Lanka. The refinery was built in August 1969 by Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, under the guidance of Iran.