Attock Refinery Suspends Operations Amid Road Closures, Fuel Supply Disruption Feared

Islamabad: Attock Refinery Limited (ARL) has suspended its operations due to road closures and security measures, raising concerns over potential disruption in petroleum supply across central and northern regions of Pakistan.
According to refinery officials, the sudden halt in the movement of oil tankers has disrupted both the supply of crude oil and the distribution of refined petroleum products. As a result, the refinery’s main crude distillation unit, which has a daily capacity of 32,400 barrels, has been temporarily shut down.
The refinery management has formally informed the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) about the development.
Officials stated that traffic restrictions have significantly reduced crude oil intake while also hindering the transportation of petrol and diesel, directly impacting refinery operations. Consequently, there has been an unusual buildup of motor gasoline (petrol) and high-speed diesel stocks, alongside a sharp decline in crude oil supply, forcing a halt in production.
Sources indicate that the shutdown could also affect oil fields in Jhelum and Attock, as well as several sites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where production may face suspension.
Attock Refinery is the only refinery serving northern Pakistan, supplying fuel to Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. A prolonged closure could impact fuel availability for airports and defense requirements.
The refinery has urged the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and the Petroleum Division to intervene immediately and ensure uninterrupted movement of oil tankers. It warned that failure to restore operations could lead to a serious energy crisis in the country.