Attock Refinery shuts key unit

April 22, 2026 (MLN): Attock Refinery Limited (PSX: ATRL) has shut down its main crude distillation unit after transport disruptions linked to security measures in Islamabad curtailed both crude inflows and fuel dispatches.

The company informed the Pakistan Stock Exchange that movement of oil tank lorries to and from the refinery was abruptly suspended due to expected visits by foreign delegates in the capital.

The restrictions led to a sharp decline in crude oil receipts while simultaneously causing a buildup of refined product inventories.

As a result, the refinery has taken offline its primary unit, HBU-I, which has a processing capacity of 32,400 barrels per stream day (BPSD), until logistical conditions improve.

The disruption has significantly increased stocks of Motor Spirit (MS) and High-Speed Diesel (HSD), reflecting constraints on outbound supply even as upstream feedstock availability tightens.

The development highlights the sensitivity of Pakistan’s downstream oil sector to logistical bottlenecks, particularly those arising from administrative and security-related movement restrictions.

Refiners rely heavily on uninterrupted road transport for both crude supply and product distribution, leaving operations exposed to sudden policy-driven disruptions.

Attock Refinery said the unit will remain shut until traffic flows normalize, without providing a timeline for resumption.

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