The demand for fuel in 2022 was higher in comparison to the years 2020 and 2021, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said.
Taking to ‘X’, Minister Wijesekera clarified that fuel supply and demand were limited due to the Covid lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.
He further said that the demand for fuel in 2022 was higher for the following three (03) reasons.
- Demand for Diesel increased due to the unavailability of Heavy Fuel Oil & Naptha for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) power plants from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Refinery closure.
- Demand for fuel was higher for generators during power cuts.
- Demand for fuel was higher during fuel shortages and power cuts due to panic buying.
The minister added that fuel supply and demand have normalized since the COVID-19 pandemic and the Economic crisis.
Minister Kanchana Wijesekera made the remarks in response to recent media reports claiming that fuel consumption has decreased by 50 per cent in Sri Lanka.
Earlier this month, the Sri Lanka Petroleum Distributors Association confirmed a reduction in fuel consumption.
At the time, the Association’s Chairman said the economic situation in the country was one of the reasons for the decrease in fuel consumption.
Fuel sales data of Auto Diesel & 92 Petrol for 2019, 2022, 2023 & 2024 are below.
Fuel supply and demand were limited due to the Covid lockdowns in 2020 & 2021.
The demand for fuel in 2022 was higher for 3 reasons.
1. Demand for Diesel increased due to the unavailability of… pic.twitter.com/ChzV2dnBbT
— Kanchana Wijesekera (@kanchana_wij) April 11, 2024
