Attock refinery shuts main crude unit as traffic curbs in Islamabad disrupt supply

Attock Refinery Limited (ARL) has announced the shutdown of its main crude distillation unit following disruptions in oil supply and product dispatch caused by traffic restrictions in Islamabad ahead of possible US-Iran talks on Wednesday, according to an official notification. The refinery caters to fuel requirements across central and northern Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. In a mandatory regulatory filing to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), the company said its main crude distillation unit (HBU-I), with a capacity of 32,400 barrels per stream day (BPSD), has been shut down. {{pdf}} In the notification, the company said the movement of oil tank lorries to and from the refinery had been abruptly suspended due to the expected arrival of foreign delegations in the federal capital, disrupting both crude supply and product dispatch. “We wish to inform you that due to the expected arrival of foreign delegates in Islamabad, there has been an abrupt suspension of oil tank lorry movement to and from ARL. This situation has adversely impacted crude oil receipts as well as product dispatches, directly affecting refinery operations,” ARL said. Also Read: Trump declares Iran ceasefire extension with peace talks in doubt As a result, the refinery said it could neither dispatch refined products nor receive crude oil from oilfields. The constraints led to a significant build-up in stocks of Motor Spirit (MS) and High-Speed Diesel (HSD), while crude oil receipts declined sharply due to road closures. The disclosure was made under clause 5.6.1 of the PSX Rule Book and sections 96 and 131 of the Securities Act, 2015, read with relevant notifications. ARL also requested the PSX to disseminate the information to Trading Right Entitlement (TRE) certificate holders. The refinery said operations would remain affected until normal movement of oil supplies resumes, underscoring the broader impact of logistical disruptions on the energy supply chain.