Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong has stated that China will not allow a fuel crisis to occur in Sri Lanka under any circumstances, delivering the strongest foreign-government commitment to the island’s energy security since the Strait of Hormuz disruption began impacting global fuel supplies.
The Ambassador made the remarks on Thursday, April 10, as Sri Lanka continues to manage fuel rationing measures including QR-based distribution controls introduced after the Middle East conflict drove up global energy prices.
China already has a significant presence in Sri Lanka’s fuel sector through Sinopec, which operates retail fuel stations across the country. The state-owned Chinese oil giant recently raised Super Diesel prices to Rs. 600 per litre, reflecting the broader supply pressures from the Hormuz closure.
The diplomatic assurance comes alongside separate fuel supply arrangements Sri Lanka has been pursuing with India and Russia, as the government works to diversify energy sources away from Middle East-dependent supply chains.
President Dissanayake’s administration has introduced a Rs. 100 billion relief package to cushion households from the energy price shock, while the IMF’s latest review concluded a staff-level agreement this week worth approximately $700 million.
China’s pledge adds a third major bilateral fuel supply track for Sri Lanka, alongside the Indian and Russian channels, as the country navigates what the ADB projects will be a year of moderating growth shaped by the Middle East conflict.
