LAUGFS Terminals Ltd inaugurated operations of its state-of-the-art LPG Transshipment Terminal at the Hambantota International Port, the largest of its kind in South Asia, with the first of its LPG cargo brought in by the Sri Lankan flagged vessel Gas Success, part of LAUGFS Maritime’s own LPG vessel fleet.
The new LAUGFS LPG Terminal is an important energy infrastructure in the Indian Ocean, having strategically located amidst key international maritime trading routes connecting West to East.
The first LPG cargo discharge on board LAUGFS Maritime’s LPG ship - Gas Success - was ceremoniously initiated by LAUGFS Chairman W. K. H. Wegapitiya, LAUGFS Group Managing Director,Thilak De Silva and CEO of Hambantota National Port Group, Ray Ren, CEO of Hambantota International Port Service Co. Ltd., Captain Ravi Jayawickrama and other officials.
“This marks a historic occasion not just for LAUGFS, but for our nation as well as the entire Asian region,” commented LAUGFS Chairman, W. K. H. Wegapitiya. “The first revolutionary step taken towards realising Sri Lanka’s vision to become a maritime and logistics hub in South Asia was propelled in the early 1970s by the ground-breaking initiatives taken at the Colombo Port to create a hub for container transshipment.
The economic and social impact of this to Sri Lanka is tremendous and multi-fold,” he elaborated.
With a projected annual export value of USD 500 million, the 30,000 MT LPG terminal represent a significant investment in infrastructure development in Sri Lanka. The new LPG Transshipment facility will also serve to initiate coastal shipping services between Hambantota and Colombo Ports for the first time in the country.
“Over the past two decades LAUGFS has been able to stride ahead with true entrepreneurial vison as a world class Sri Lankan conglomerate that could proudly etch the Sri Lankan flag on the global map. We have achieved this with especially the expansion of our energy businesses, which has been possible due to the untiring efforts, deep passion and courage of our LAUGFS team. The LAUGFS Transshipment Terminal is another such feat, where we have conquered the impossible in the face of many challenges and have been able to create history in the energy sector not only in Sri Lanka, but also within the South Asian region,” remarked LAUGFS Group Managing Director, Thilak De Silva.
The Terminal is also expected to support LAUGFS Gas’s rapid expansion plans in the region to become an integrated regional LPG player in the Indian Ocean Rim area by leveraging on the synergies and strengths within its energy value chain.
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