RAWALPINDI: In a mandatory regulatory filing to Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) on Wednesday, ARL reported that its main crude distillation plant, with a refining capacity of 32,000 barrels per day, has been shut down.
The company stated that it was unable to dispatch refined petroleum products or receive crude oil supplies from oil fields due to ongoing disruptions.
“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 in its communication to PSX and SECP.
The refinery further highlighted that due to limitations in product dispatch, its stock levels of Motor Spirit (MS) and High-Speed Diesel (HSD) have risen significantly.
“Concurrently, our crude oil receipts have also declined significantly due to the road closures. As a result, we have shut down our main crude distillation unit (HBU-I) of 32,400 barrels per stream day (BPSD) capacity till improvement of the current traffic restrictions,” the refinery management stated in its mandatory filing.
Over the past week, ARL had approached the Petroleum Division and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), requesting facilitation for the movement of oil tankers to and from its refinery.
In separate letters, the company also pointed out that roads had been closed for oil tank lorry movement from April 18 to April 26 due to the anticipated arrival of foreign delegates in Islamabad.