A vessel carrying 30,000 metric tons of furnace oil for power generation arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) confirmed.
CPC Chairman D.J. Rajakaruna said the fuel stock will enable uninterrupted electricity supply going forward, ruling out the need for power cuts. The arrival is part of a broader procurement push — CPC had previously announced 12 shipments scheduled for April to address supply pressures caused by the ongoing Middle East energy crisis.
The timing is significant. Sri Lanka’s power grid has been under sustained pressure from substandard coal imports at Norochcholai and elevated global fuel prices following the US-Iran conflict. Furnace oil is critical for thermal power plants that supplement the coal-fired Lakvijaya plant.
Separately, one of the three 300MW generator units at Norochcholai was shut down on the same day due to reduced electricity demand during the Avurudu holiday — easing immediate grid pressure even as supply improves.
The government has also moved to suspend petrol QR rationing through the Avurudu period and introduced work-from-home directives to conserve fuel.
With the furnace oil delivery secured and holiday demand naturally lower, the immediate risk of power disruptions appears to have receded — though the underlying supply chain remains dependent on whether the fragile ceasefire holds.
