Oil refinery in Sri Lanka Information

Coral Health and Monitoring Program coral at coral.AOML.ERL.GOV
Sun Jul 16 03:36:01 EDT 1995


---------- Forwarded message ---------- 
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 95 18:00:18 +0000 
From: guest at lanka.gn.apc.org 
To: coral at coral 
Subject: Oil refinery in Sri Lanka Information 

To: coral at coral.aoml.erl.gov, irf at clark.net 
We recived your name from 
Prabha at iclei at web.apc.org 
Could you please Read 

Thank you in advance 

Subject: Sri Lanka Large Oil Refinery (Information required) 

INFORMATION REQUIRED 

Large Oil Refinery for Sri Lanka 

The extreme south of Sri Lanka is a relatively underdeveloped region of the 
country noted for its wildlife and beaches. The principal income generating 
activities in the region include tourism, fisheries and salt production. 
Tourists are attracted to the South by the beaches, the wildlife (and 
wildlife sanctuaries) and a place of pilgrimage sacred to both 
Buddhists and Hindus. 

The extreme south is the habitat of a rich fauna and flora. The fauna 
along the coast includes indigenous and migratory birds (e.g. sea eagles, 
pelicans, flamingos and ducks) and marine turtles. Coral reefs are also 
found in the south of the country.  

A proposal is being developed at present to site a giant oil refinery cum 
power project near Hambantota on the south coast. To supply this refinery it 
is said that oil tankers will be parked offshore and crude oil transferred by 
pipeline. The products of the refinery will be both for export as well as for 
use within the country. Reasons for the siting of the refinery cum power 
project complex near Hambantota include the generation of employment 
opportunities in the region. 

Although the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project is still 
being prepared and is not yet available for public inspection and comment 
(within a prescribed period), concern is already being expressed by some as 
to whether any disadvantages (e.g. oil leakages and spills) of the proposed 
development may outweigh the benefits. 

While there is already a small refinery situated close to the commercial 
capital of Colombo, we would be interested in receiving information on the 
impacts of large refineries cum power stations on coastal ecosystems and 
wildlife in other parts of the world. This will help in our study of the 
EIA when it is opened for public examination. 

Any comments should be sent to 
Please respond via post (snail Mail) only or in EN.ALERTS or REG.SASIA 
Thanks 

Rohan  H. Wickramasinghe 
Institute for Tropical Environmental Studies (ITES), 
41 Flower Road, 
Colombo 7, 
Sri Lanka. 




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