Pre-cum-Mains GS Foundation Program for UPSC 2026 | Starting from 14th Nov. 2024 Click Here for more information
What is the news?
Recently it was announced, that Indian Oil Subsidiary Lanka IOC would be given 49% stake in the joint development of the Trincomalee Oil Tank farm with Ceylon Petroleum Corporation keeping 51%.
This arrangement is for the next 50 years.
The next step is three formal agreements: two between CPC and LIOC — one for the joint development and the other for the 24 tanks to CPC — and the third between the Sri Lankan government and LIOC.
| Must Read: Sri Lanka to sign Trincomalee oil tank farm deal with India in a month, says Minister |
The idea of the agreement is 35 years old but has come into shape now.
India focussed its attention over the matter after China got control over the Hambantota port in 2010.
| Must Read: India finalises cooperation plan to revive COVID-hit Sri Lankan economy |
Why Trincomalee matters?
It is a pre-WWII era oil storage facility has a capacity of nearly 1 million tonnes, which far outstrips the demand in Sri Lanka.
It is the nearest port to Chennai.
| Must Read: Sri Lanka’s economic crisis: Challenges for India – Explained, pointwise |
Source: This post is based on the article “Developing Trincomalee oil tank farm: What the deal means for India, Lanka” published in The Indian express on 3rd Jan 2022.
