A multi-stakeholder workshop was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 14-15 December 2017 to explore the potential of developing Sri Lanka as a Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) Transshipment Hub, and coordinated development of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure in the subregion. The SASEC Vision identifies LPG transshipment and development of a storage hub in Sri Lanka as a potential flagship initiative.

The Workshop

• Discussed the potential of developing an LPG Transshipment Hub in Sri Lanka; detailed analysis on demand, infrastructure development, private sector participation, and comparison of landed cost with the hub were presented;
• Reached consensus on the economic rational of developing an LPG transshipment hub in the Bay of Bengal region;
• Agreed to undertake a study on regulatory reforms in Sri Lanka to promote an enabling environment for the private sector to develop and expand an LPG hub; and
• Highlighted the potential of small-scale LNG value chains in the South Asia subregion.

A regional study will be conducted to explore how to meet long-term demand, and explore solutions to meet short-term supply and demand gap. It will identify a pipeline of public and private infrastructure projects, and will be linked to ongoing economic corridor studies.

Mr. Harsha de Silva, Deputy Minister, National Policies and Economic Affairs, Sri Lanka, delivered the keynote address. Mr. R. Paskaralingam, Senior Advisor to Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, provided the special remarks. Mr. Shantha Bandara, Secretary, Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, Sri Lanka, provided opening remarks. Ms. Sri Widowati, Country Director, Sri Lanka Resident Mission, delivered welcome remarks.

The Workshop was attended by 49 participants, including delegations from the Governments of Bangladesh and Maldives, and officials from various government agencies in the Government of Sri Lanka, supported by staff and consultants of ADB.