Fuel crisis cripples Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 October 2006, 12:22 GMT]
With storage tanks running dry, private and coopertive stores in Jaffna peninsula have stopped distributing diesel to Government offices and private vehicle owners with effect from today, civil society sources in Jaffna said Monday. The fuel crisis will seriously impact all commercial and administrative activities in Jaffna and will cripple functioning of institutions, including schools, that depend on public transport, officials warned.

Northern Region Transport Board (NRTB) which runs public transport in Jaffna Peninsula has suspended bus services with effect from Monday, transport officials said.

Only very limited emergency transport was authorized from Kondavil, Point Pedro and Kayts depots which serve as the central administrative points for the peninsula public transport.

Head of administration at Kondavil bus depot said that Jaffna district requires 2000 litres of diesel a day to run the normal schedule of buses. "Sri Lanka Petroleum cooperation supplied us with 3300 litres Saturday and we have used up that supply by Sunday evening. Until fresh supply arrives we are not in any position to serve the Jaffna public," the official added.

Meanwhile, shortage of fuel at the diesel-fired electric power station in Chunnnakam, has forced the engineers to reduce the electricity supply only 5-hours a day from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., and then from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The diesel we have will last only a few more days and then there will be total suspension of electricity supply, the chief engineer at Chunnakam said.