President flags off Bunkering Facility, Tank Farm project

by Our Special Correspondent

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday inaugurated a fully-fledged Bunkering facility and a Tank Farm project to be constructed at Hambantota Port with 14 tanks. The total cost of the project will be US$ 76,581,774.

Minister of Ports and Aviation Chamal Rajapaksa, following the assumption of duties as the new Minister, took initiative in the implementation of Hambantota Port Development Project to expedite its construction according to Mahinda Chinthanaya, not only with the objective of developing the infrastructure of the Southern Region but also aiming at wider economic development of the whole country. The total project, is carried out with the supervision of the Chairman of SLPA also the Director of Hambantota Port Development Project Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama under the guidance and instructions by the Minister of Ports and Aviation Chamal Rajapaksa. Janaka Kurukulasuriya is the chief engineer of this Southern Port Development Project.

Eight tanks out of the 14 will be utilized for bunkering while the other six will be utilized three each for Aviation Fuel and as LPG Tanks. The 14 tanks will offer a total capacity of 80,000 cubic metres. China Huanqiu Contracting and Engineering Corporation works as the contractor of the project.

An Administrative building of 15 levels including a roof top will also be built at the site for Hambantota Port with a floor area of 75000sq ft and a height of 200ft. The building is designed by Tanya and Suren Wickremasinghe Architects. China Harbour Engineering Co and Sino Hydro Corporation Joint Venture, the contractor of the Hambantota Port Development Project is also the contractor of the Administration building.

Hambantota Port Development project commenced in January 2008 and is scheduled to be completed in April 2011. The project has been implemented with a total construction cost of US$360 million of which 85% will be granted by the Ex-Im Bank of China. The balance will be invested by SLPA.

Being a mega development project implemented in Sri Lanka, Hambantota Port Development Project is fully supervised and inspected by the Engineers of SLPA that enabled SLPA to save a huge cost that would have to be spent if the project was handed over to foreign experts for supervision and inspection.

Hambantota is the nearest point to the main shipping route that connects East and West. As the port of Colombo is reaching its maximum capacity for all types of cargo including Bulk, Break Bulk, RoRo, Oil and Gas, Container etc; another suitable and efficient port is needed with all facilities to cater to the increasing demand of maritime transportation and customer services. As a completely successful solution to the type of congestion expected at the Port of Colombo, the biggest service and industrial port in the country is being constructed closest to the international maritime route in Hambantota.