APD | Major oil product supplier awarded tender by Chinese funded port in Sri Lanka

By APD writer Easwaran

COLOMBO, Apil 17 (APD) -- A major oil productsupplier has been awarded the tender for oiltrading at a major Sri Lankan port which is managed by China.

The Hambantota International Port (HIP) said it awarded a tender to Sinopec Fuel Oil Sales Co. Limited for oil trading works and the operation and maintenance of their oil tank terminal along with associated facilities.

Bunkering being an important part of the marine services portfolio offered by Hambantota International Port (HIP), the oil tank terminal in partnership with Sinopec Fuel Oil Sales Co. Limited will provide high grades of marine fuels compliant with the IMO 2020 Low Sulphur Rule as well as other ancillary facilities to marine liners calling and passing through Hambantota.“The partnership with Sinopec, who are one of the largest providers of bunkers worldwide, underlines our goal of becoming a bunkering hub for the entire region. Plans are already in the pipeline to expand our tank capacity in the near future,” Ray Ren, CEO of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) said, adding that HIP intends taking maximum advantage of its location, just 10 nautical miles from the main sea route connecting east and west, on which ply more than 31,000 vessels each year.

Several interested parties from Singapore, China, India, Dubai and Sri Lanka, had purchased tender documents and participated in the pre bid meeting, held at the Port.

Tissa Wickremasinghe, COO of HIPG says that the tender process was transparent and in accordance with international tender evaluation processes and practices.

He added s that Sinopec was awarded the tender for its global network and terminal operation experience, “We believe this cooperation would help us to provide cost-competitive and high-quality products as well as effective and safe services to our customers.”

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)