Fuel Consumption Nearly Doubles In March

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, many countries around the world are currently facing an energy crisis. 

As nations struggle to manage this situation through different strategies, Sri Lanka has taken a two‑step approach: first, by increasing fuel prices, and second, by introducing fuel distribution under a QR code system.

During the nearly one‑week period since the QR system was introduced, fuel authorities, including the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, continued to distribute fuel to filling stations across the island in the usual manner.

Under normal circumstances, approximately 7,300 metric tonnes of diesel and 5,300 metric tonnes of petrol are released daily to fuel stations. 

An examination of daily fuel distribution across the country shows the following figures:

March 09 – Diesel: 7,800 metric tonnes / Petrol: 5,000 metric tonnes

March 10 – Diesel: 7,000 metric tonnes / Petrol: 4,000 metric tonnes
March 11 – Diesel: 7,000 metric tonnes / Petrol: 4,200 metric tonnes
March 12 – Diesel: 6,800 metric tonnes / Petrol: 4,200 metric tonnes
March 13 – Diesel: 7,300 metric tonnes / Petrol: 4,950 metric tonnes
March 14 – Diesel: 7,250 metric tonnes / Petrol: 5,480 metric tonnes

During the first nine days of the month, Sri Lanka consumed approximately 57,000 metric tonnes of diesel and 47,000 metric tonnes of petrol.

This volume is roughly equivalent to two diesel shipments and one and a half petrol shipments.

Under normal conditions, Sri Lanka’s average daily fuel consumption stands at around 4,800 metric tonnes of diesel and 4,045 metric tonnes of petrol.

However, during the first 15 days of March, average daily fuel consumption in Sri Lanka was recorded at nearly double the usual level. 

Accordingly, The sharp increase in consumption is the primary reason authorities decided to introduce the QR‑based fuel distribution system, in order to manage demand and safeguard future fuel supplies.