By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery should not be shut down and restarted from time to time, former Senior Deputy General Manager and Acting Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Cyril Suduwella told the media yesterday.

He said that such interruptions might damage the operating systems of the oil refinery.

The Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery has the capacity to process 50,000 barrels of crude oil per day and the plant should operate continuously for two years, Suduwella said.

“After two years, we can close it down for a few days for maintenance. That is how the refinery has functioned for 40 years (This was commissioned in the 1960s). If shut it down from time to time, it may develop defects, and repairs will be extremely expensive.”

Suduwella said refining crude oil in Sri Lanka was the most economical way for the country because by-products of refining are also vital for many industries. Apart from diesel and petrol, products such as kerosene, burnt oil, jet fuel and furnace oil are produced during the refining process, he said.

“Without these by-products, many industries will go into crisis. When the refinery was established, the government made colossal profits. Refineries are a lucrative business. We must expand the plant so that we can refine 100,000 to 150,000 barrels of crude oil daily. The plant also severs as a training centre.