Asia/Pacific News
World Fuel Services-John Keells Holdings JV Among Bids for Hambantota Bunkering Operations: Reports
Four bids have been made to the Sri Lanka Government in response to its request for proposals (RFP) to operate the bunkering facility at the country's port of Hambantota, local media reports.
The bids were submitted by Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd (CPSTL), Adani Bunkering, and a joint venture between John Keells Holdings and World Fuel Services, according to the country's Sunday Times.
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has twice extended the deadline for the RFP, with the most recent extension having closed last week on August 23.
A local media report noted that, based on publicly available information, CPC and CPSTL did not meet the qualification criteria set out in the RFP.
"It also defies logic that Government corporations, particularly those running at a loss, would bid to take over other Government assets," an unnamed local source was quoted as saying.
CPC was previously highly critical of the previous, ultimately failed bunkering operation run by the SLPA, with Ananda Palitha, Secretary of CPC's petroleum branch, saying numerous issues could have been avoided had it been consulted by the SLPA's previous administration.
