Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa officially declared opened the oil tank farm at Hambantota port on June 22, Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) said in a statement.
With the opening of the oil tank farm the port will be equipped with facilities to begin bunkering operations.
Accordingly, the fuel bunkering at the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port commenced operations on 23, SLPA Chairman Priyath Bandu Wickrama said.
The oil tank farm, comprising 14 tanks, was constructed at the Hambantota Port with an investment of US$ 76 million
The farm has eight tanks for fuel bunkering facilities for vessels, three tanks for aero fuel and three tanks for storing LP gas. The 14 tanks will also have an overall capacity of 80,000m3.
The project is composed of five up right tanks with dome in 10,000m3, three up right tanks with dome in 5,000m3, three up right tanks with dome in 3,000m3, three spherical LPG tanks with 2,000m3 and all necessary auxiliary facilities, according to the SLPA statement.
The tank farm will initially handle 55,000 tonnes of shipping fuel with eight tanks and is expected to add further 100,000 tonnes under the second phase.
It is envisaged that many of the 4,500 oil tankers would anchor at Hambantota for bunkering, ship repairing and also to purchase food, water, medical supplies as well as logistics, Wickrama said.
The Sri Lankan government has decided to keep the port open for the school children and other visitors to witness fueling a ship.| < Prev | Next > |
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