Attock Refinery Limited (ARL) has recommenced the distribution of petrol and diesel across Pakistan following the restoration of its operations after a brief suspension. This temporary shutdown was a result of interruptions in crude oil supply.
The refinery officially notified the Pakistan Stock Exchange that the production and delivery of petroleum products have returned to full capacity. Previously, ARL had to halt its main crude distillation unit, which processes around 32,400 barrels daily, due to these disruptions.
The stoppage occurred when oil tanker movements were suspended because of road closures in Islamabad. These closures were implemented as part of security measures for anticipated foreign delegations visiting the capital.
These restrictions significantly affected the inflow of crude oil to the refinery and the dispatch of refined fuels, causing a buildup of stocks at the facility while market supplies became constrained. As the sole refinery serving northern Pakistan, ARL is vital for supplying fuel to central and northern Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. It also provides aviation fuel for Islamabad and Peshawar airports.
With the reopening of tanker routes and the resumption of crude oil deliveries, ARL has restarted its main processing unit and informed relevant authorities and stakeholders. This restart is anticipated to alleviate concerns regarding fuel shortages and stabilize petroleum availability in the affected regions.
