Attock Refinery warns of complete shutdown by coming weekend

August 18, 2022 (MLN): Since Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are taking off the insignificant amount of petroleum products, especially HSD, Attock Refinery Limited (PSX: ARL) is left with accumulated high stocks and if the dispatch pattern persists, the company will have to shut down its operations by the coming weekend.

While highlighting this concern to Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), the company stated, “To manage the ullage situation and avoid complete refinery shutdown, we had earlier temporarily shut down one of our crude distillation units and now have further reduced our refinery throughput.

“Resultantly, we are now operating at a bare minimum throughput of 65% of our capacity. We are afraid if the dispatch pattern persists; complete refinery shutdown now appears imminent by the coming weekend,” it added.

It is once again reiterated that ARL is a deficit supply zone for both HSD and PMG hence our product should be prioritized for upliftment by OMCs before moving any volumes in our supply envelope, it said.

In a letter to OGRA, the company requested the immediate intervention of the authority to issue directions to OMCs for taking maximum supplies of HSD and PMG from ARL.

Otherwise, the shutdown may cause disruption of entire crude oil supply chain including gas supplies from the local oilfields. Further supplies to Armed Forces and Islamabad Airport shall also be affected.

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