ISLAMABAD: The toad transport of petroleum crude and refined products to and from Attock Oil Refinery (ARL) was restored late last night following the intervention of Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and the General Headquarters (GHQ), according to the refinery’s management.
The development comes a day after the refinery was forced to suspend operations due to road closures that disrupted the movement of oil tank lorries. The restrictions had been imposed in connection with the anticipated arrival of foreign delegates in Islamabad, significantly affecting logistical operations in the region.
In this regard, this particular Oil Refinery plays a critical role in meeting the fuel demands of central and northern Punjab, as well as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
It also supplies Furnace Fuel Oil to independent power producers (IPPs), contributing to efforts aimed at mitigating electricity shortages in the country.
Meanwhile, the refinery stated that it was unable to receive crude oil from oil fields or dispatch refined petroleum products, resulting in operational constraints. “The abrupt suspension of oil tank lorry movement has adversely impacted crude oil receipts and product dispatches,” the company noted in its communication.
As a consequence of the halted dispatches, ARL reported a significant buildup in its stock of Motor Spirit (MS) and High-Speed Diesel (HSD). At the same time, crude oil inflows declined sharply due to restricted transportation routes.
So far, the refinery further indicated that it had earlier approached the Petroleum Division and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), requesting facilitation for the uninterrupted movement of oil tankers.
