Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm Deal:
Sri Lanka and India are set to sign a long-awaited agreement to build the `Trincomalee oil tank farm` together.
Highlights:
- The Trincomalee oil tank farm deal is a long-desired project that has been a source of contention for a long time.
- This project has been in the works between India and Sri Lanka for 16 months.
- Udaya Gammanpila, Sri Lanka`s Energy Minister, has directed the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) to set up a subsidiary called Trinco Petroleum Terminal Ltd for this purpose.
- President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has approved the formation of a special purpose vehicle.
Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm:
- During WWII, the British constructed the "Trincomalee Oil Tank Farms" as a refuelling station. It was built next to the Trincomalee port, which has a lovely natural harbour.
- The century-old oil tanks, on the other hand, will need to be refurbished before they can be re-used, which will cost millions of dollars.
- The proposal to renovate the oil farm was included in a 35-year-old Indo-Lanka agreement.
- The Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm is located in `China Bay.` It is made up of 99 storage tanks, each with a capacity of 12,000 kilolitres and spread across the Lower and Upper Tank Farms.
- Lanka IOC currently has 15 tanks in operation. A new agreement is being negotiated for the remaining tanks.
- The Upper Tank Farm will be built in partnership with Indian Oil Corporation and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.
###India: 27 Border Infrastructure Projects Launched
On December 28, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated 24 bridges and three roads.
Highlights:
- Border Roads Organisation (BRO) built these across four Indian states and two union territories.
- Despite the difficulties of working at high altitudes and in sub-zero temperatures, the Defence Minister praised BRO for completing these projects.
- The Minister also announced the establishment of `BRO Cafes` in 75 locations as part of the `Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav` celebrations.
- These roads and bridges were constructed to allow troops to move quickly across India`s borders with China and Pakistan.
- These projects will also boost tourism and ensure the region`s socio economic development.
Double-Lane Modular Bridge:
- The most notable of the new bridges was India`s first indigenous Class 70 140-foot Double-Lane Modular Bridge.
- It was built at an elevation of 11,000 feet on Flag Hill Dokala in Sikkim.
- The completion of the Chisumle-Demchok road at Ladakh`s over 19,000-foot Umling La Pass is also significant.
- According to Guinness World Records, the road is the world`s highest motorable road. This road will be used as a shortcut between Leh and Demchock.
- With the completion of the Flag Hill-Doklam Road, Indian troops will have a faster route to the Doklam plateau.
###