Attock Refinery resumes nationwide fuel supply after temporary shutdown

Attock Refinery Limited (ARL) has resumed the supply of petrol and diesel across the country after restoring its operations, following a temporary shutdown caused by disruptions in crude oil supply.

The refinery confirmed in a notification to the Pakistan Stock Exchange that production and delivery of petroleum products are now fully operational. The disruption had earlier forced ARL to shut down its main crude distillation unit, halting production of approximately 32,400 barrels per day.

The shutdown was triggered by a suspension of oil tanker movement due to road closures in Islamabad, imposed as part of security arrangements for expected foreign delegations.

The restrictions had severely impacted both the inflow of crude oil and the dispatch of refined products, leading to a buildup of fuel stocks at the refinery while supplies in the market tightened. As the only refinery serving northern Pakistan, ARL plays a critical role in supplying fuel to central and northern Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as aviation fuel for Islamabad and Peshawar airports.

With tanker movement restored and crude oil supply resumed, ARL has restarted its main unit and informed authorities and stakeholders. The resumption of operations is expected to ease concerns over fuel shortages and stabilize petroleum supply across affected regions.