KARACHI: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has expressed serious concern over domestic refineries’ failure to meet their committed production targets for petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD), directing them to immediately increase output and clear accumulated shortfalls.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In a letter addressed to Pak-Arab Refinery Limited (Parco), Attock Refinery Limited (ARL), Cnergyico Refinery Limited, National Refinery Limited (NRL) and Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL), Ogra reported that their combined production of motor spirit (MS) and HSD fell short of declared targets by 7,521 metric tonnes and 54,796 metric tonnes, respectively, in October 2026.
The regulator noted that the shortfall persisted into November, according to the Oil Companies Advisory Council’s (OCAC) Daily Stock Situation Report (DSSR) up to November 9.
Refinery-wise data showed that motor spirit production was 3.3 percent below the prorated target in October, while HSD output fell short by 9.8 percent. The situation deteriorated further in November, when aggregate motor spirit and HSD production remained 12 percent and 17 percent below their respective prorated targets.
National Refinery Limited recorded the largest shortfall in motor spirit production, with output 33.7 percent below target in October. The deficit widened sharply to 74 percent in November.
Cnergyico also reported significant production gaps in November, with motor spirit and HSD output falling 30 percent and 40 percent below their respective targets.
Parco’s HSD production was 10.2 percent below target in October and 12 percent below target in November, while Attock Refinery recorded a 14 percent shortfall in diesel production during November.
Ogra described the deviations as a matter of grave concern, stating that such underperformance was unacceptable amid the prevailing volatile geopolitical environment. It emphasised that maximising domestic refinery production was essential to safeguarding the country’s oil supply chain.
The regulator directed all refineries to immediately enhance production, clear accumulated shortfalls and fully meet their November 2026 Production Requirements Monitoring (PRM) targets.
However, oil industry sources said the production figures should be assessed in the context of crude oil availability and the refineries’ ability to fulfil their commitments during the two-month period.
Citing Parco, the country’s largest refinery, the sources said the facility had met its PRM commitment by operating at maximum capacity but faced constraints in crude oil availability, particularly in sourcing light crude.
They explained that processing heavier crude results in lower HSD production and higher furnace oil yields, although petrol output remained normal.
Story by Tanveer Malik
