MUSCAT: Oman’s oil ministry on Wednesday denied being part of a $3.85 billion plan to build an oil refinery in Sri Lanka, a day after the government in Colombo announced the Arab country’s participation, Reuters reported.
On Tuesday, Sri Lankan officials told a news conference that a joint venture between the Oman oil ministry and a Singapore investment vehicle owned by India’s Accord Group had agreed to build the 200,000 barrel per day refinery near Chinese-controlled Hambantota port on the island’s south coast.
The ministry was to take a 30 percent stake, the officials said, representing what would be Sri Lanka’s biggest single foreign direct investment.
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This was reported by Reuters.
However, Salim Al Aufi, undersecretary of Oman’s ministry of oil and gas, told a news conference on Wednesday, that “No one on this side of the panel is aware of this investment in Sri Lanka.”
“It came as news to me, I don’t know who is signing the cheque for $3.8 billion.”
According to Reuters, Sri Lankan officials could not be reached for immediate comment on the Oman denial.
Reuters reported that “It was a public holiday in Sri Lanka on Wednesday.”
