State-of-the-art petroleum testing lab to be set up at Hambantota port

Hambantota International Port (HIP) will partner Intertek Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd to establish a state-of-the-art petroleum-testing laboratory, which will be unique to Sri Lanka. 

Through this facility, Intertek will provide innovative and bespoke assurance, testing, inspection and certification services. 

HIPG CEO Johnson Liu said, “HIPG has great potential in energy services, due to its location in the Indian Ocean rim, where 50 percent of the world’s maritime oil is traded. 

Our oil fuel bunker, LPG and future LNG operations are sure to cement HIP’s position as an energy hub in the region.”

In a virtual ceremony held this week, HIPG and Intertek Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd signed an agreement for a 10-year partnership, which provides Intertek the opportunity to establish its services in the port.  

“Petroleum testing is an important activity in port-related services such as testing marine products, bunkering and bunker-related inspections. Intertek helps to ensure that products meet quality, health, environmental safety and social accountability standards for virtually any market around the world, with our extensive global accreditations, recognitions and agreements. We look forward to working with the Hambantota Port, which is ideally located to serve the east-west shipping routes,” said Intertek Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd Country Managing Director Priyantha De Silva.
The leading global independent inspection service provider will bring all of its global capabilities to ensure the laboratory is classified as a truly international state-of-the-art facility, which is capable of testing the IMO 2020 global sulphur protocol.

“This will be a great value addition to HIP’s offering and as we add more services for the shipping network on the main east-west shipping lanes, the Hambantota Port will take its rightful place as a global maritime location,” said HIPG COO Tissa Wickramasinghe.

Intertek has earned a reputation for helping its customers increase the value of their products, gain competitive advantage and develop trusted brands, minimising adverse health and environmental impacts of the products and processes for the benefit of society as a whole.

This partnership will enable HIP’s clients to get their products such as fuel oil and marine diesel tested efficiently, as the petroleum laboratory will be within the port premises. The new lab will also open up employment opportunities for the local community and provide exposure to laboratory operations of international standards. 

Attending the virtual signing ceremony were HIPG CEO Johnson Liu, COO Tissa Wickramasinghe along with Intertek Regional Director Trade James Ignatovich, Regional Director Sales and Technical Support Stephen Harrington, Regional Managing Director Sandeep Das, Intertek Sri Lanka Country Managing Director Priyantha De Silva and Regional CFO Ajay Kapoor from Intertek.