1st Week October 2022 - Alcohol sales drop, Biogas from Elephant Poo, Muriate of Potash from Singapore, Refinery Closed again
Only 90 billion of revenue from Alcohol so far
The Department of Excise, Sri Lanka has reported a significant drop in revenue. At the beginning of the year 2022, they predicted a revenue of 185 billion rupees, however, by September they have only recorded a revenue of 90 billion rupees. Amid the financial crisis purchasing power of customers has been significantly lower resulting in hardship in achieving sales targets; this has affected the whole industry including the production of ethanol. (Cover photo is of a sugar cane farm in the Pelwatte area, Lanka Sugar Company is a key player in the industry, they produce Ethanol as a by-product of their sugar production. )
Energy from Elephant Poo
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage to make biogas from 5 MT of Dung collected daily. Senior Presidential advisor (Climate Change) Ruwan Wijewardena with representatives from the climate vulnerable forum visited Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala to conduct pre-feasibility studies. (Source Lankadeepa - 4th Oct 2022)
Actions against tender board officials - 2022 to 2025 Coal Tender
The parliament Committee on Public Finance (COPF) has recommended all members of the tender board be barred from sitting on tenders for a minimum of 12 months.
Singapore Firm to supply Muriate of Potash for the 2022/2023 Maha Cultivation Season.
Ameropa Asia LTD, a Singapore-based firm has been awarded the contract to supply Muriate of Potash fertilizer for the 2022/2023 maha season. Total of 40 MT of Muriate of Potash will be produced and in this regard 50 million $ financial assistance has been provided by ADB. Muriate of potash, also known as potassium chloride contains 60% potash. Potash is essential for plant growth and quality. It plays a vital role in the production of proteins and sugars.
The petroleum Products (Special Provisions) Amendment bill has been approved by the ministerial consultative committee for Power and Energy
After previous efforts being challenged by the supreme court; a modified bill has been produced before the ministerial consultative committee for power and energy and obtained approval to proceed to a parliament debate. Minister of Power and Energy said in a tweet that he hopes the new version will be tabled in 3rd week of October. This bill paves the way for more companies other than CPC and LIOC to cater Sri Lankan market through the importation, supply and distribution of petroleum products.
First-ever Agrophotovoltaic Power Plant in Sri Lanka
The first agrophotovoltaic power plant where the land is used for solar power generation and agriculture simultaneously has been commissioned. This 10 MW power plant is located in Vavunathivu, Eastern Province and it is a project by Solar Universe LTD a joint venture of three Sri Lankan companies namely WindForce PLC, HiEnergy Services LTD and Vidullanka PLC.
Sapugaskanda Refinery has been closed down.
Mr. Kanchana Wijesekara in a tweet said that the Refinery at Sapugaskanda will be closed from today due to a shortage in Forex for Crude Oil Cargos. This decision has been taken after Forex was not available to pay for two cargos of Ural Crude oil which had been already processed at the refinery. Once forex is available to the CPC, they will pay for the cargo which is already in SL waters for 10 days with 100000 tons of ESPO crude (Esatern Siberia Pacific Ocean).
1) Sapugaskanda Refinery will be closed from today due to shortage in Forex for Crude Oil Cargos. However there will be No shortage in refined products as CPC has adequate stocks of all products & CBSL has made available the weekly Forex requirements for refined products.
— Kanchana Wijesekera (@kanchana_wij) October 7, 2022
ASTRON Limited was awarded Environmental Sustainability Certification
Astron Limited is a 100% Sri Lankan-owned company which develops, manufactures and distributes healthcare products including pharmaceuticals, nutritional products and herbal products. The company was recently get awarded ISO 14001 - 2015 environmental sustainability certification by Sri Lanka Standard Institute.
