POL products’ consumption up by 9.7 pc, production by 3.2 pc

ISLAMABAD: The consumption of petroleum products registered a growth rate of 9.7 per cent during the fiscal year 2016-17 as compared to previous year’s increase of 5.2 per cent.

During the year, main drivers of increased consumption were transport and power sectors, which registered high growth of 12 per cent and 10 percent respectively as compared to the year 2015-16, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) said in its annual report for the year 2016-17.

The consumption of Motor Spirit (MS) in transport sector witnessed an increase of around 16 per cent during the period under review, which could be attributed to rising demand of transport sector particularly the growing number of motorcycles and cars.

Similarly, consumption of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) grew by 10 per cent compared to previous year mainly on account of higher utilisation by transport sector indicating increased economic activity in the country.

Transport and Power sectors consumed almost 90 per cent of total Petroleum Oil Lubricant (POL) consumed in the country, with 57 per cent and 33 per cent shares respectively.

Pakistan State Oil remained the lead player in total energy products supply to the consumers with 55 per cent market share, followed by Shell with 9 per cent, Attock Petroleum Limited and Hascol Private Limited with 8 per cent each. Total PARCO Marketing Limited and Total PARCO Pakistan Limited captured 4 per cent shares each. While Byco Petroleum Pakistan Limited and other oil marketing companies contributed 3 per cent and 8 per cent shares respectively.

Total production by the refineries stood at 11.67 million tons as compared to previous year’s 11.31 million tons, showing a growth of 3.2 per cent.

Pak-Arab Refinery Company was the largest and main producer of petroleum (POL) products with 39 per cent market share in the total production, followed by National Refinery Limited with 20 per cent share, Attock Refinery Limited, Pakistan Refinery Limited and Byco Petroleum Pakistan Limited with 18 per cent, 14 percent and 10 per cent respectively.

The demand for HSD, MS and FO were mostly met through imports as domestic production was not enough to meet the domestic requirements.

Around 73 per cent of MS, 69 per cent of FO, 46 percent of HSD and 14 per cent of Jet Fuels demand was met through imports of finished POL products in the country during the last fiscal year.

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