Dysfunctional fuel ‘tokens’ stir fury

A dysfunctional ‘token’ idea introduced by Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara to provide non-existent diesel and petrol has further raised tensions and caused fights and chaos day and night at filling stations across Sri Lanka.

After announcing tokens, Mr Wijesekera flew to Qatar, shopping for fuel, having failed to secure an oil tanker that he assured was due on June 23.

That day, the Matara lawmaker tweeted: “Fuel cargo carrying 40,000 MT of Petrol 92 scheduled to arrive early this monring (sic) has been delayed by 1 day. Limited amount of Petrol to be distributed today and Tomorrow islandwide. Auto Diesel distributed at full capacity islandwide. Limited distribution of Super Diesel.’’ On June 22, he posted a cost breakdown that showed that the country is purchasing diesel at US$174.67 a barrel and petrol at US$157.30.

Days after his token idea, the country shut down.

On June 25, Mr Wijesekera, tweeted: “Regret to inform that CPC has informed me that the suppliers that had confirmed Petrol, Diesel and Crude Oil Shipments to arrive earlier this week and next week has [sic) communicated the inability to fulfill the deliveries on time for banking and logistic (sic) reasons.’’

After his tokens talk at a live media briefing, hundreds of thousands began lining up for a hand-written piece of paper, but there was neither petrol, nor diesel. No kerosene, either.

A visit to a cross section of filling stations showed that tokens are not being issued everywhere and the lines are longest at those that issued them.

People are supposed to line up, get a token and leave. The fuel station would call the mobile number the motorist gives, if and when fuel is available.

"Does anybody who can think rationally believe that the fuel shed can call you when the bowser arrives? We cannot expect that to happen because there would be so much of confusion as people with tokens will be arriving at different times,’’ said Ananda Wijewantha who was waiting at a filling station in Borella.

At the Kiribathgoda filling station, threewheel drivers, motorcyclists, and motorists had been in line for over two days.

The situation in Colombo, too, was similar. People are furious.

Most filling stations which issue tokens, put up notices that say there is no fuel.

We spoke to three- wheel driver Anil Ravindra, 40, a resident of Kaduwela at the Lanka Indian Oil Company (IOC) filling station at Thalangama. He said two queues had formed to get fuel and for tokens.

“On Thursday, 400 tokens had been distributed and those people who got tokens had formed a separate queue to buy fuel,’’ he said.

Mr Ravindra said he had lined up to get a token, but would only have the chance to get fuel after those who got tokens the previous day are given fuel.

He complained that when fuel is available and is being given to token holders, 10 or 15 policemen would also come to fill up. The police bikes soak up the supply.

And those who have got tokens continue to wait in lines, he said.

Some tokens only had the number and signature of the issuing officer, while others had information of the vehicle such as vehicle type, licence plate number, and the owner's name, he said.

Three-wheeler driver G.D Ananda, who had got a token, told the Sunday Times he had been waiting for more than a day in Thalangama. “I depend on the daily earnings I make by running hires. Now my vehicle is in the queue. I was unable to earn for two or three days. I got a token yesterday, but I am still waiting for fuel,” he said.

He said a soldier handed out tokens and wrote down numbers, while they stayed in the queue, but no one explained how fuel will be given.

The All Island Three-Wheel Drivers Union president Lalith Dharmasekara said tokens were a total flop. He said he could not figure out how tokens ensured fuel because there was not enough supply.

“People at the front of the fuel queue are served first and the others who got tokens have to wait. Meanwhile, there could be other sheds nearby providing fuel without a token,” he said. Nishantha Basnayake, owner of several filling stations, said he had issued tokens even before the government introduced it.

Motorists comply, but three-wheel drivers and motorcyclists were jumping the lines, he said. “I have one IOC fuel station and two other Ceylon Petroleum Corporation sheds, but only have fuel for the IOC shed,’’ he said.

Another filling station owner who declined to be named, said not every operator was designated to issue tokens and even if they did, there was no fuel.

Minister Wijesekara, who proposed the tokens, was unavailable to comment.