Abstract:
Downstream petroleum industry in Sri Lanka is basically divided in to two major
wings “ Terminaling and Marketing” . Ceylon Petroleum Corporation(Ceypetco) and
Lanka Indian Oil Corporation(LIOC) are predominantly engaged in marketing
business whilst engaging themselves in a lesser magnitude of 5% in terminaling
business where as Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited(CPSTL) which is a
joint wenture of CPC and LIOC is totally engaged in the terminaling business. CPSTL
is responsible for the supply refined petroleum products in bulk to dealers, consumers
or to the island wide sub storages of CPSTL called petroleum depots.
Terminaling business in Sri Lanka CPSTL is authorized to carry out 95% of the
distribution of refined petroleum products in the country. Approximately 80% of bulk
fuel deliveries is carried out by CPSTL by using tank trucks either from the main two
petroleum terminals, Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela or from the island wide depots.
With the escalation of price of crude oil and refined petroleum products higher
incidents of malpractices is on the records committed by tank truck operators
transporting to fuels.
Given this scenario it is of cardinal importance for the CPSTL to ensure that the
refined petroleum products delivered by road tankers reach the destinations on time
with correct product quality and quantity. The malpractices and breach of discipline
committed by tank truck operators usually require extra time conducive locations and
avoidance of being tracked.
It is envisaged that Fleet Management System developed on “Global Positioning
System”(GPS) and “Global System for Mobile Communication”(GSM) technologies
would be capable of providing solutions to the array of problems encountered by
CPSTL management with regard to difficulty in monitoring tank truck moments while
the cargo is on transit. The main objective in this project is to develop a low cost tank
truck tracking system using limited resources, with the possibility of an added
security feature. The low cost GPS tank truck tracking systems would track the
movement and determine the exact location of vehicles.
