News
Amid contingency plans, LCC enlists second lab to test coal
View(s):Amidst persistent questions regarding the quality of South African coal imported via Trident Chemphar for the Lakvijaya plant, Lanka Coal Company (Pvt.) Ltd (LCC) has enlisted a second laboratory in South Africa to test the 13th and 14th coal shipments at the load port, Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RCBT).
Meanwhile, LCC this week floated an emergency tender to purchase 300,000 MT of coal—that is, five shipments—and invited its 26 registered suppliers to send in bids. Energy Ministry Secretary K.T.M. Hemapala said the emergency procurement will only be carried out if the contract with Trident Chemphar is required to be cancelled. “We cannot get both,” he said.
As such, the letter of invitation states: “In the event that no emergency situation arises due to failure of the existing coal supply, the sealed and unopened bids shall be returned to the respective bidders without being opened.”
Meanwhile, two officials, including one from Lakvijaya, are to be sent to South Africa in relation to assessing the quality of the coal being sent to Sri Lanka, Prof. Hemapala said. Separately, an accredited laboratory called Bureau Veritas has been hired by LCC for the provision of independent survey and coal testing services.
LCC’s contract with Trident Chemphar allows for a lab of the buyer’s choosing to independently test coal samples at the load port. It is this clause that is now being operationalised.
As such, Bureau Veritas has been instructed to supervise loading and sample preparation, analyse the buyer’s sample, certify the cargo covering the specified parameters and issue two sets of documents.
The assignment is to begin at the next immediate loading vessel, stated to be the 13th ship under the contract, at RCBT, South Africa, upon receiving notification from LCC of the vessel name and loading date.
BV has been instructed to ensure full transparency, accuracy and impartiality in all testing and testing activities.
(Please see related story on P 14 and Political Column.)
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