Attock Refinery Resumes Operations After Road Access Restored
Fuel supply from Attock Refinery Limited has resumed after authorities restored the movement of oil tankers, easing concerns about potential shortages in northern regions of the country.
The refinery had temporarily shut down its main crude distillation unit due to road closures that disrupted the transportation of crude oil and refined petroleum products. The restrictions were put in place in connection with the expected arrival of foreign delegations in Islamabad, which led to a temporary halt in tanker movement.
According to officials, road access was restored following coordination between Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and support from General Headquarters (GHQ). Refinery management confirmed that tanker movement resumed late at night, allowing operations to gradually restart.
During the disruption, the refinery was unable to receive crude oil or dispatch fuel, leading to a shutdown of its main processing unit, which has a capacity of approximately 32,400 barrels per day. The situation raised concerns about fuel availability across central and northern Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Officials noted that stocks of petrol and high-speed diesel had accumulated at the refinery due to dispatch constraints, while incoming crude supplies declined significantly, resulting in the operational pause.
Authorities had earlier cautioned that extended disruptions could lead to fuel shortages, including possible supply challenges for aviation fuel at airports in Islamabad and Peshawar.
With transport routes now reopened, supply concerns have eased, and refinery officials expect production levels to return to normal in the coming days.
