联合石油进入斯里兰卡零售燃料市场

　　澳大利亚燃料公司联合石油于 2024 年 8 月 22 日在斯里兰卡正式启动其服务。据电力和能源部长 Kanchana Wijesekera 称，该公司将于 9 月开始零售燃料业务，计划在全岛运营 150 个经销商拥有和经营的加油站。

　　联合石油公司目前是斯里兰卡燃料市场的第四家外国运营商，此前三家分别是印度石油公司 (LIOC)、中国石化和美国 RM Parks-Shell。此次收购是斯里兰卡政府为减轻国有锡兰石油公司 (CPC) 的财务压力（尤其是燃料进口外汇压力）而采取的更广泛战略的一部分。

　　2023 年，斯里兰卡政府向联合石油、中石化和 RM Parks 颁发了零售燃料许可证。作为运营条件，这些公司必须使用母公司的外汇进行进口，并且不得将外汇从斯里兰卡汇回。

　　此举旨在稳定该国的燃料供应，减少对 CPC 的依赖，从而有助于缓解持续的经济挑战。

　　United Petroleum enters Sri Lanka’s retail fuel market

　　Australian fuel company United Petroleum officially launched its services in Sri Lanka on August 22, 2024. The company is set to begin retail fuel operations in September, with plans to operate 150 dealer-owned and operated fuel stations across the island, according to Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekera.

　　United Petroleum is now the fourth foreign operator in Sri Lanka’s fuel market, joining Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC), China’s Sinopec, and U.S.-based RM Parks-Shell. This entry is part of the Sri Lankan government’s broader strategy to reduce the financial strain on the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), particularly in terms of foreign currency for fuel imports.

　　In 2023, the Sri Lankan government awarded retail fuel licenses to United Petroleum, Sinopec, and RM Parks. As a condition of their operations, these companies are required to use foreign currency from their parent companies for imports and are prohibited from repatriating foreign currency from Sri Lanka.

　　This move aims to stabilise the country’s fuel supply and reduce reliance on CPC, helping to alleviate the ongoing economic challenges.