Two Russian companies have been registered as fuel suppliers to Sri Lanka, clearing them to bid to supply crude oil for the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation’s (CPC) refinery operations.
CPC Managing Director Mayura Neththikumarage said the registration allows M/s. Rosneft Oil Company and JSC Zarubezhneft to take part in fuel supply tenders, according to NewsFirst and the Daily Mirror.
He said the next tender for the purchase of crude oil is scheduled to open on July 21, and both Russian firms will be eligible to submit bids. Nearly 15 companies are currently registered to supply fuel to the country, the CPC said.
The registration marks a concrete step toward broadening Sri Lanka’s fuel procurement base at a time of heightened pressure on global energy markets. Colombo has spent much of the past year weighing cheaper crude from Russia as prices swing on renewed tensions in the Middle East, though the opposition has previously accused the government of moving too slowly on the Russian track, demanding an explanation over stalled energy talks with Moscow.
Registration does not by itself guarantee any supply contract; it simply makes the two firms eligible to compete against established suppliers when tenders are floated. The outcome of the July 21 crude tender will offer the first real test of whether Russian oil can secure a foothold in Sri Lanka’s import mix on commercially competitive terms.
