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Moves to kick-start Rs.15bn mega pipeline project comes under fire
Despite anticipated drop in fuel consumption for thermal energy
bY SURESH PERERA
With three major Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects now on the cards coupled with the commissioning of the Mannar wind power plant, questions are being raised over ongoing moves to forge ahead with plans to build a mega Rs.15 billion cross-country oil pipeline when the long-term demand for thermal power is expected to drop drastically.
The renewed interest within some quarters with political blessings to implement the proposed pipeline project at such stupendous cost has raised eyebrows as the monthly consumption of 45,000 metric tons of fuel to generate costly thermal energy will no longer be necessary with LNG and wind power supplementing the country’s demand for power, industry officials said.
At a time Sri Lanka is facing a grave economic crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic, what is the urgent need for a cross-country pipeline when there will be far less fuel imports in the long term?, they asked.
With a proposed solar power project at Siyabalanduwa also in blueprint stage, constructing a high cost pipeline at this juncture is as insensible as “watering outdoor plants when it’s raining”, and ultimately result in the project being rendered redundant with billions of rupees going down the drain, they opined.
In addition, bids have already been called to build a new pipeline to facilitate the transfer of jet fuel from the Muthurajawala tank farm to Katunayake at substantial cost. Under the circumstances, what’s the viability of investing on another project when alternate energy sources will make thermal power generation irrelevant in the long run, industry players further queried.
Even if the cross-country pipeline project begins tomorrow, it will take another four years for its completion, whereas the LNG plants will be operational within three years. With a lifespan of 25 years on the pipeline, the country will not be able to recover even the cost of the multi-billion rupee project, they asserted.
Sri Lanka has already signed three major LNG deals with the governments of China, India and Japan. While the proposed combined plants are expected to add 1,400MW to installed capacity, the transnational agreements will play a key role in mitigating unreliability in hydro power supply while bolstering foreign capital inflows.
Sri Lanka’s fuel consumption per day is 5,000 metric tons, of which 1,500 metric tons are channeled to generate thermal power. While the Sapugaskanda facility has the capacity to refine 2,000 metric tons of crude oil per day, the balance 1,500 metric tons are imported as refined oil.
Lanka IOC directly imports refined oil, which is stored and distributed by Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL).
A tanker load of 40,000 metric tons of fuel can be discharged within 24 hours. With the anticipated drop in fuel consumption for thermal energy after the proposed entry of LNG into the energy market, the number of tankers can be also reduced with a substantial cost saving, industry officials said.
The cross-country project was first proposed during 2013-14 but was shelved with the construction of the Muthurajawala oil tank farm, which was augmented by a new oil pipeline at the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery by CPC (Ceylon Petroleum Corporation) engineers.
However, renewed interest on the project re-surfaced during the tenure of the previous UNP government with then Minister Kabir Hashim presenting to the Cabinet a bid by Langfang-based China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau to build the pipeline at a cost of Rs. 15 billion.
A Malaysian company, which quoted Rs. 7.5 billion for the proposed project was disqualified at the time as its tender documents were apparently “not in order”.
Under the new dispensation, the CPSTL sought the cancellation of the tender awarded to the Chinese company as the CPC engineering team reached the conclusion that they can undertake the job after a new feasibility study and related research were conducted to find alternatives as the estimated Rs. 15 billion cost factor was enormous.
The project could be completed internally within 30 months at a cost of Rs. 5 billion, which translates into a saving of Rs. 10 billion for the country. However, with multiple alternate sources of energy in the offing, it has been determined that it was unviable to implement such a mega project at tremendous cost when another new 18-inch diameter pipeline would suffice to meet the demand.
It doesn’t make sense to call for international tenders to build pipelines when local engineers are capable of achieving the feat, industry officials said. “Of course, there are no fat commissions rolling in when these jobs are handled by Sri Lankan professionals”.
In what industry players described as a “strange twist”, there are continuing overtures to push through the pipeline project in a new game plan to perhaps line the pockets of some officials as the task could be completed for one-third of the estimated cost by local engineers. “With Rs. 10 billion to throw, there will be many on the gravy train if the deal works out!”.
Meanwhile, S. D. J. Paregama, secretary of the Sri Lanka Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya (Petroleum Branch) expressed concern over moves to revive the project, which, he said, was a waste of public funds at a time the country’s economy was in bad shape.
“After our union wrote to President Rajapaksa on the futility of implementing this costly pipeline project, he directed that it be halted immediately”, he said.
After a bout of silence, there are subtle moves now to push ahead with the project with the Chinese bidder, he claimed.
“As a trade union which supported the President at the last election, we expect him to take a firm stand to ensure that public funds are not squandered on projects that are white elephants”, he emphasized.
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PCoI on Easter Sunday attacks:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC is not bound by recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (P CoI) into the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, or presidential directives in that regard, according to authoritative sources.
They said that the AG couldn’t under any circumstances initiate legal proceedings until he had received the full PCoI report.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa received the PCoI report on Feb 1. The President’s Office delivered a set of PCoI reports to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Feb 23, a day after the report was presented to the cabinet of ministers. The Island raised the matter with relevant authorities in the wake of a section of the media reporting the PCoI recommending punitive measures against former President Maithripala Sirisena, Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, IGP Pujitha Jayasundera, Chief of State Intelligence Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, Chief of National Intelligence retired DIG Sisira Mendis and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader and Samagi Jana Balavegaya MP Rishad Bathiudeen et al over the Easter Sunday carnage.
Sources pointed out that due to the inordinate delay in sharing the PCoI report with the AG, the department hadn’t been able to take preliminary measures required to initiate the proceedings. Sources said that a team of officers would take at least six weeks or more to examine the report before tangible measures could be taken.
With the AG scheduled to retire on May 24, 2021, even if the AG Department received the P CoI it would be quite a tough task to initiate proceedings ahead of retirement, sources said. However, in terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in last October, both the AG and the IGP could receive extensions beyond 60 at the President’s discretion.
Dappula de Livera received an Acting appointment as the AG a week after the Easter Sunday carnage whereas his predecessor Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, was elevated to Chief Justice.
Responding to another query, sources said that the Attorney General two weeks ago requested Secretary to the President for a copy of the P CoI. However, the AG was yet to receive one, sources said. In spite of the AG not receiving a P CoI copy, the AG had instructed the IGP to obtain a copy of the report when he requested the police to complete investigations into the Easter Sunday carnage. The AG issued specific instructions after having examined police files pertaining to the investigations.
The IGP, too, hadn’t received a copy so far though some sections of the report were in the public domain.
Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage displayed at a live political programme on Derana a copy of the P CoI report he received at the cabinet meeting earlier in the day.
Sources said that the Attorney General’s Department couldn’t decide on a course of action in respect of the Easter carnage on the basis of a section of the report. In terms of the Commission of Inquiry Act (Section 24), the AG enjoyed significant powers/authority in respect of investigations; sources said adding that the Department urgently required both the P CoI report and police investigations report. The Attorney General’s Department has raised the delay in receiving a P CoI report amidst the Catholic Church attacking the government over the same issue.
Sources said that ministerial committee appointed to study the P CoI report couldn’t decide on how to proceed with the recommendations and the matter was entirely in the hands of the AG. Sources pointed out that the delay on the part of the government to release the report had received the attention of sections of the international media, including the New York Times. Public Security Minister retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera having met Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith at the Bishop’s House on Dec 8, 2020 said that the AG would get a copy of the P CoI report once the President received it. Minister Weerasekera said that the CID had handed over the relevant files after having completed investigations into eight blasts. Referring to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report on the Easter Sunday carnage, the former Navy Chief of Staff said that all such documents would have to be brought to one place and considered before initiating legal proceedings. Acknowledging that there could be delays, lawmaker Weerasekera said that on the instructions of the Attorney General a 12-member team of lawyers was working on the case. The minister vowed to expose the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks. Investigations continued while some of those wanted were overseas, the minister said.
The minister acknowledged that the Attorney General couldn’t proceed without the P CoI report. Minister Weerasekera reiterated that once the President received the P CoI report, it would be sent to the Attorney General. The minister said that there were documents two to three feet high that needed scrutiny. The minister assured comprehensive investigation. The minister said that investigations pertaining to eight blasts had been completed and the reports handed over to the AG. However, the Attorney General had found shortcomings in those investigations.
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By Saman Indrajith
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday bombings had failed to identify the mastermind of , the JVP said yesterday.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said that the PCoI report had levelled accusations against former President Maithripala Sirisena, former IGP and head of intelligence for their dereliction of duty, shirking of responsibilities and not taking action to prevent the attacks and negligence. There were reference to the causes of the terror attacks and actions to be taken to avoid such attacks and the influence of extremist organisations. “However, there is no mention of the mastermind of the attacks, the handlers of the attackers and those whose interests the carnage served. It is also not mentioned whether there has been any foreign or local organisation behind those attacks. As per the PCoI report the attack took place as a result of culmination of extremism.
“According to the PCoI the extremist activities were a result of the prevailing political situation then. The entire nation was waiting to see who was responsible and who masterminded those attacks. The PCoI has failed to identify the true culprits responsible for the terror attacks. The report says that the leader of the suicide cadres killed himself in the attacks and it was a puzzle. That means those who are actually responsible for the attacks are still at large. The report does not provide exact details of the sources of the attacks. The PCoI had sittings for one year and five months. It summoned various persons and got their statements but it has failed to shed any light on the terror attacks. Everybody knows that the top leaders of the government and heads of security and intelligence establishments failed in their duties. Ranil Wickremesinghe was the second in command and he too is bound by the responsibility but the PCoI report fails to identify him as one of the persons against whom legal action should be instituted. The PCoI has treated Wickremesinghe and former President Maithripala Sirisena differently. We are not telling that this report is a total failure but we cannot accept this as a complete report. The PCoI handed over its report to the President on Feb 1. After 23 days it was sent to Parliament. Now, a copy of the report is there in the parliamentary library for the perusal of MPs.”
Herath said that the PCoI did not have powers to take punitive action. “It only has powers to name those responsible and recommend action to be taken against those named.
