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KARACHI: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has expressed serious concern over local refineries' failure to meet committed production targets for petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD), directing them to immediately increase output and clear accumulated shortfalls.
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 said 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 said the shortfall continued into November, according to the Oil Companies Advisory Council’s (OCAC) Daily Stock Situation Report (DSSR) up to November 9.
Refinery-wise figures showed that motor spirit production was 3.3 per cent below the prorated target in October, while HSD output was 9.8 per cent lower.
The shortfalls widened in November, with aggregate production of motor spirit and HSD falling 12 per cent and 17 per cent below their respective prorated targets.
National Refinery Limited recorded the largest shortfall in motor spirit production, with output 33.7 per cent below target in October. The deficit widened to 74 per cent in November. Cnergyico also reported significant shortfalls, with motor spirit and HSD production falling 30 per cent and 40 per cent below targets, respectively, in November.
Parco’s HSD production was 10.2 per cent below target in October and 12 per cent below target in November. Attock Refinery recorded a 14 per cent shortfall in diesel production in November.
Ogra described the deviations as a matter of grave concern, saying such underperformance was unacceptable amid the prevailing volatile geopolitical environment. It stressed that maximising domestic refinery output was critical to safeguarding the national oil supply chain.
The regulator directed all refineries to immediately increase production, clear accumulated shortfalls and meet their November 2026 Production Requirements Monitoring (PRM) targets in full.
However, oil industry sources said the production figures should be viewed in the context of crude oil availability and the refineries’ ability to meet their commitments during the two months.
They cited Parco, the country’s largest refinery, as an example, saying it had met its PRM commitment by operating at maximum capacity. However, the refinery faced constraints in crude oil availability, particularly in sourcing light crude.
According to the sources, processing heavier crude resulted in lower HSD and higher furnace oil yields, although petrol production remained normal.
