Stocks adequate to meet three months demand - Laugfs Chairman | Sunday Observer

Stocks adequate to meet three months demand - Laugfs Chairman

29 March, 2020
W.K.H. Wegapitiya
W.K.H. Wegapitiya

Laugfs Gas PLC has enough stocks, adequate for over three months, at its large storage facility at Hambantota, said Laugfs Gas Chairman W.K.H. Wegapitiya allaying fears that there could be a shortage arising from the current global crisis emanating from the coronavirus pandemic.

“There is absolutely no need to panic as we have enough stocks stored at our faculties at Hambantota, Colombo and Mabima to meet the demand for over three months,” Wegapitiya said, scoffing rumours that the country is bracing for a major shortage of energy and other essential utilities owing to the global crisis.

He said over 30,000 MT of LPG is available at its storage at Hamabantota and added that the company’s strong distributor and dealer network is well geared to meet the rising demand for LPG in the country.

“We have 130 lorries to transport gas across the country and the over 31 distributors and over 8,300 dealers are working round the clock to meet any eventuality,” Wegapitiya said, adding that anyone could call its hotline 2427427 to order stocks.

Panic buying triggered by the situation in the country has rung false alarm bells among consumers that the country is facing a shortage of essential food items and commodities.

Consumers rushed to shopping malls, grocery shops, filling stations and pharmacies to stack up adequate stuff for the curfew period.

“During all crises, Laugfs Gas had doubled its supply and continues to work round the clock to meet demand. Similarly, we are prepared to meet the demand under any situation,” Wegapitiya said.

Meanwhile Power and Energy Minister Mahinda Amaraweera last week assured consumers that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) had  sufficient stocks of fuel and that the public need not fear a fuel shortage.

He said five trains transporting  around 250,000 tons of petrol and diesel have been sent to all the provinces from the Kerawalapitiya CPC storage.

A train with 14 oil tank carriages carrying 82,500 tons of petrol and diesel left for Peradeniya. The stock will cater the fuel needs in the Central and Uva Provinces.

A second train equipped with four oil wagons carrying 40,000 tons of petrol and diesel was sent to Anuradhapura for the Northern and North Central Provinces.

The third train with six oil wagons was sent to Batticaloa to fulfill the demand in the Eastern Province.

Another two trains with oil wagons carried 42,000 tons of aviation fuel to BIA, Katunayake.

The Minister said that the CPC had stored adequate stocks of fuel sufficient for the next two months. Meanwhile, three vessels carrying fuel are due to reach the country before the end of this month.

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