Petroleum Resources Development Minister Arjuna Ranatunga affirmed today that an oil tanker with 40,000 metric tons of Petrol is expected to arrive on November 8.
The Minister made this statement during a press briefing held today at the Ceylon Petroleum Cooperation in Colombo.
The demand for petrol rose following a rumour regarding an oil shortage due to the rejection of a fuel shipment imported by the Lanka Indian Oil Company.
Minister Ranatunga said that existing condition would have worsened if the shipment from the Lanka Indian Oil Company was distributed without being rejected.
CPC sources said yesterday that the usual consumption of petrol, which is about 2,000 MT per day, had doubled in the last three days as panicked consumers started stocking up on petrol.
In response to the false alarm, the Minister urged the public to use fuel sparingly and assured that the existing stocks could meet the demand until November 9.
However at the meeting today the Petroleum Minister said there were enough stocks to last until November 9 with a new shipment expected on November 8.