Oct 18, Colombo: Petroleum authorities say Sri Lanka will directly import refined fuel rather than importing crude and refining it to maintain fuel supplies in case of a delay in receiving crude oil.

Authorities have indicated that a delay could occur in crude oil importation due to sanctions imposed against Iran but assured that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminal Limited will take measures to supply the necessary stocks of oil to the refinery in Sapugaskanda.

The CPC has stressed that the possible delay in crude oil shipments will not be allowed to impact oil supplies and the authority hopes to fulfill fuel requirements by directly importing refined petroleum rather than relying upon refining crude oil.

The refined petroleum stocks are sufficient to meet 70 percent of the country's fuel needs, the CPC has said.

The Corporation said it has been compelled to reduce the number of ships carrying crude oil to Sri Lanka from Iran, from 13 to 10, due to the US sanctions on Iran.