A new fuel hydrant system and aviation refuelling terminal has officially been opened at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) in Mattala, Hambantota in Sri Lanka.
The new automated facility was built with an investment of approximately LKR5bn ($38.34m) and is expected to support the country’s aviation industry through economic development, employment generation and regional development.
The fuel hydrant system and aviation refuelling terminal features a high-tech computerised refuelling unit, a fire hydrant system and fire hazard identification system.
Until the Sri Lanka Port Authority aviation storage tank farm at the Hambantota Port facility is ready for operations, Jet-A1 fuel for the facility will be supplied through CPSTL Kolonnawa road tankers.
The Sri Lankan Government has allocated a 32km pipeline corridor from Hambantota Port to MRIA for a Jet-A1 fuel transfer pipeline to be constructed in the future, based on the increasing demand for fuel at MRIA.
Airport contractor China Harbour Engineering Company built the fuel hydrant system within the apron, while terminal construction and the 1.2km interconnecting pipelines have been assigned to Dubai-based Amana Pipeline Construction.
