Lankan official blames poor quality oil imports for power plant’s shutdown

A senior Sri Lankan official has blamed poor quality crude oil imports for the shutdown of a power plant, leading to extended blackouts amid the ongoing economic crisis in the island nation.

Janaka Ratnayake, chief of the Public Utilities Commission, told the BBC on Monday that the oil burnt in the furnaces had too much sulphur in it.

“Sulphur content is too high in the furnace oil (fuel oil) which is not suitable for the current power plants and it’s also not conforming with environmental standards.

“If you buy good quality crude oil for refineries, then this problem will not happen,” Ratnayake told the BBC.