The Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Terminal in the
Hambantota Port in the southern tip of Sri Lanka constructed by a Chinese
company has come to mechanical completion. The strategically situated port is
now with the Chinese company on a Ninety Nine year old lease.
The LPG terminal in Sri Lanka's Hambantota is the
largest of its kind in the Indian Ocean region with a total storage exceeding
60,000 cubic meters according to Chinese media reports.
The LPG terminal is invested by one of Sri
Lanka's largest LPG distributors, LAUGFS, and constructed by China Huanqiu
contracting & Engineering Co., LTD, subsidiary of China National Petroleum
Corporation.
LAUGFS Chairman, W. K. H. Wagapitiya said that
the LPG terminal in Hambantota would bring tremendous economic benefits to Sri
Lanka, and make a difference in improving Sri Lankan people's livelihood.
Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Cheng Xueyuan
also welcomed the completion of the project, saying it is another success in
the China-Sri Lanka cooperation in the Hambantota area under China's Belt and
Road Initiative.
In recent years, Sri Lanka and China have been
strengthening cooperation in the island country's Hambantota area. The Sri
Lanka Ports Authority and China Merchants Port Holdings last year signed an
agreement to co-run the Hambantota Port.
In addition to the port, plans are also underway
to develop an industrial zone close to the Hambantota Port premises. Chinese
companies have strong presence in container terminals in the Colombo port as
well. The companies have recently bagged huge dredging contracts in the Port. |