Sapugaskanda refinery to shut down tomorrow

Sunday, 16 June 2013

The Sapugaskanda oil refinery is to be shut down again from tomorrow (17) due to the problems that have arisen over the quality of the refined fuel.

Sources from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) have said that the octane number of the refined fuel has dropped to 88.

The problem has resulted in the CPC being forced to hold back 3,500 metric tons of fuel that have already been refined without releasing it to the local market.

Local vehicles currently use fuel that is either 90 or 95 octane.

According to CPC sources, the Sapugaskanda refinery could refine only Iranian light crude oil and faces problems when ever other crude oils are refined.

This time around, the refinery had used crude oil imported from Oman.

The production capacity of the refinery has dropped to 200 metric tons a day due to the lack of Iranian light crude.

Suspect dies in Hospital

SUNDAY, 16 JUNE 2013

A suspect taken into custody by the Wadduwa Police has died suddenly falling sick, Police media spokesman SP Buddhika Siriwardena said.

The man, a resident of Rathmale in Minneriya, had been taken into custody last evening for alleged house breakings and several thefts including thefts of 46 gas cylinders, according to the Police.

He died after admission to the Panadura hospital this morning.

An investigation has begun on the incident under the direction of an ASP of Nugegoda, he said. The post mortem is schedule to be tonight. (Sanath Desmond)