National Refinery Limited ( NRL ) was incorporated on August 19, 1963 as a public
limited company. Government of Pakistan took over the management of NRL under the
Economic Reforms Order, 1972 under the Ministry of Production, which was exercising
control through its shareholding in State Petroleum Refining and Petrochemical Corporation
(PERAC).
The Government of Pakistan had decided to place the National Refinery Limited under
the administrative control of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources in November
1998.
In June 2003 the Government of Pakistan decided to include NRL in its privatisation
programme. The selling of 51% equity and transfer of management control to a strategic
investor had been proposed accordingly, the due diligence process for the privatisation
was initiated. After competitive bidding NRL was acquired by Attock Group in July
2005. The Company has been privatised and the management control handed over to
the new owner Attock Group on July 7, 2005.
Business activities and refinery’s overview
NRL is engaged in the manufacturing, production and sale of large range of petroleum
products. The refinery complex of the Company comprises of three refineries i.e.
two lube refineries and one fuel refinery having a total crude oil refining capacity
of 24,570,000 Bbl per annum which corresponds to 70,000 Bbls/day. Two Lube refineries
process reduced crude to produce LBO, Bitumen, Wax and other specialty products.
Details of the different plants are given below:
First Lube Refinery:
Designed and constructed by SNAM PROGETTI of Italy with a capacity to process 3,976,500
Bbl per annum of crude oil and to produce 533,400 Bbl per annum of LBO was commissioned
in June 1966. This refinery also produces fuel, asphalt and specialty oils. After
revamp of Two-Stage Distillation Unit in September 2020 the crude oil processing
capacity has been increased from 12,050 barrel per stream day (bpsd) to 17,000 bpsd
corresponding to 5,967,000 Bbls per annum and vaccum fractionation capacity from
5,200 bpsd to 6,600 bpsd.
Hydro skimming Fuel Refinery:
Designed and constructed by Industrial Export Import (IEI) of Romania with a capacity to process 11,385,000 Bbl per annum of crude oil was commissioned in April 1977. Its capacity was increased to 16,500,000 Bbl per annum in February 1990. The fuel products consist of LPG, Naphtha, Motor Gasoline, Kerosene, Jet fuels, Diesel and Furnace Oil. After second Revamp in March 2017, the capacity was increased to 18,603,000 Bbl per year.
As directed by MOE (PD), NRL commissioned UOP licensed Diesel Hydrotreater Unit having capacity to process 29,765 BPSD of HSD to improve it to Euro II specifications. The plant has a capacity to reduce sulphur content in HSD to as low as 10 PPM. In October 2017, the Company has successfully commissioned Isomerization Unit having capacity to produce 6,793 BPSD of Isomerate.
Second Lube Refinery:
Designed by CE Lummus of UK and constructed by Industrial Export Import (IEI) of
Romania, second lube refinery was commissioned in January 1985. It has a designed
capacity of 700,000 Bbl per annum of LBO and 100,000 tons per annum of asphalt.
A lube revamp project undertaken with the technical assistance of Exxon Mobil has
been commissioned thereby enhancing LBO production capacity to 805,000 Bbl per annum.
BTX (petrochemical) Plant:
Designed and constructed by Nordon ET Cie of France with a capacity to produce 180,000
Bbl per annum of BTX, the plant was commissioned in April 1979. This plant produces
Benzene, Toluene and Xylene for the specialty chemicals market.
Status of Company
Under Third Schedule of the Companies Act, 2017 the Company falls under the classification
of Public Interest Company.