KARACHI: Attock Refinery Limited (ARL) has announced closure of its main crude distillation unit due to operational disruptions caused by road closures in Islamabad.
In a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the refinery stated that the expected arrival of foreign delegates in the federal capital has led to an abrupt suspension of oil tank lorry movement to and from its facilities. This disruption has significantly affected both crude oil receipts and the dispatch of refined petroleum products, directly impacting overall refinery operations.
The company noted that constraints in product dispatch have resulted in a substantial buildup of stocks of Motor Spirit (MS) and High-Speed Diesel (HSD). At the same time, crude oil supplies to the refinery have declined sharply due to restricted transportation routes.
As a consequence, ARL announced that it has shut down its main crude distillation unit, HBU-I, which has a capacity of 32,400 barrels per stream day (BPSD). The refinery said the unit will remain offline until the current traffic restrictions ease and normal operations can resume.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026