Attock Refinery Limited (ARL) has announced a temporary shutdown of its Heavy Crude Unit due to an unusual build-up of Premier Motor Gasoline inventories. The development comes amid reduced upliftment of fuel by oil marketing companies, creating operational challenges for the refinery.
In a notice submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange, ARL said the unit was shut down with effect from February 5, 2026. The decision was taken by management to manage elevated PMG stock levels and prevent a complete shutdown of overall refinery operations.
The company clarified that the shutdown only applies to the Heavy Crude Unit. Other crude units at the refinery will remain operational, ensuring that core refining activities continue during this period without major disruption.
ARL further stated that downstream processing units will continue to operate normally. This approach is aimed at maintaining operational stability while addressing the imbalance caused by excess gasoline inventories.
According to the company, the step was necessary to manage unusually high PMG stock levels while safeguarding the continuity of refinery operations. ARL emphasized that the move was precautionary rather than indicative of deeper operational issues.
Despite the temporary shutdown, ARL assured stakeholders that it will continue to meet its committed supply volumes. The company added that fuel dispatches for the current month will remain uninterrupted.
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