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National Fuel Pass: New system to go islandwide tomorrow

31 Jul 2022

By Maheesha Mudugamuwa The National Fuel Pass (NFP), a QR code-based tech app developed by the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), will be made compulsory for all consumers to obtain fuel from any fuel station islandwide from tomorrow (1 August). All fuel stations owned by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) should register with the NFP and get the necessary infrastructure to support the QR code-based tech app, Power and Energy Ministry Secretary M.P.D.U.K. Mapa Pathirana yesterday (30) told The Sunday Morning. According to the Ministry, the NFP has been introduced to provide the public with a convenient and easily accessible solution for obtaining fuel and facilitating an allocation-based fuel distribution method. According to the system, each vehicle, once registered for the Fuel Pass, will be allocated a weekly quota of fuel, which will be refreshed every Sunday night. Any unutilised quota will not be carried forward. Nevertheless, as learnt by The Sunday Morning, as of mid-last week, only around 480 out of 1,190 fuel stations had been registered with the ICTA’s NFP system. Despite the low number of registrations, Pathirana said that fuel would be strictly supplied only through the QR code-based app and that fuel would not be supplied based on the last digit of the vehicle number anymore. The Power and Energy Ministry also stressed that public transport would be given priority, with fuel quotas for buses being allocated at Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) depots. The fuel quota for public transport buses is to be decided by the route permit and the number of kilometres covered on the route in service.  SLTB depots will also facilitate diesel fuel requirements of school service vehicles, office transport vehicles, industries, the tourism sector, ambulances, and other essential services verified by the authorities. Furthermore, ambulances are also to be prioritised at all fuel stations and given the requested quantity of fuel. Call for public assistance to end fuel hoarding The Ministry of Power and Energy yesterday (30) appealed for public assistance to end fuel hoarding.  The Ministry requested citizens to send video or photo evidence regarding those hoarding or illegally selling fuel or not following instructions regarding distribution of fuel.  The Ministry plans to temporarily suspend the QR pass or take legal action against such offenders.    


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