Refineries Urge OGRA to Halt Diesel, Petrol Imports

Local refineries have requested the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to postpone the import of high-speed diesel (HSD) and motor spirit (MS) petrol until March with stocks in ample supply. In a letter sent to OGRA earlier this week, the managing directors of Pak Arab Refinery Company Limited (PARCO), Cnergyico Pakistan Limited (CNERGY), National Refinery Limited (NRL), Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL), and Attock Refinery Limited (ATRL) warned that they have sufficient diesel and petrol to meet the country’s needs for 39 and 36 days, respectively. The refineries also raised concerns over oil marketing companies (OMCs) not uplifting petroleum products, which could further impact local supply management. The oil industry had to face similar situations last year as well. For instance, in August 2024, they warned OGRA that oil stocks had risen to record levels and the current situation could lead to the collapse of local oil refineries.