PSO, Attock Petroleum: Joint venture builds fuel storage at new airport

It will supply fuel for Hajj and regular commercial flights

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and Attock Petroleum Limited (APL) have completed a jet fuel storage facility and associated infrastructure called Fuel Farm that has the capacity of storing 10,000 tons and will provide fuel for Hajj and regular commercial flights at the New Islamabad International Airport.

Developed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) at Fateh Jang, Attock district, the airport is being heralded as the largest and most modern in Pakistan’s history with latest systems and state-of-the-art technologies.

The jet fuel storage capacity can be enhanced to 20,000 tons later. This facility will bring re-fuelling operations in Pakistan on a par with international industry standards.

“PSO and APL joint venture has commissioned the Fuel Farm and it is now ready to fuel Hajj and regular commercial flights,” said a statement issued on Thursday.

Earlier, the CAA had awarded a contract to the two oil marketing companies - PSO and APL - for setting up the Fuel Farm comprising storage and allied infrastructure at the Islamabad airport.

The two companies will jointly manage the operations and maintenance of the hydrant re-fuelling system that carries and pumps fuel to the aircraft in a safe and efficient manner.

The New Islamabad International Airport would have the capacity to handle in excess of 4,500 passengers at a time with 15 parking bays and terminal gates.

The airport will also be able to accommodate the largest passenger airplanes in the world, the A-380 aircraft. Furthermore, it would have all the latest technological machinery and software to provide services such as cargo handling, safety and security, passenger facilitation and vehicle parking.

The government has set forth a deadline for initiating Hajj flights from the airport and work is under way to complete the infrastructure in order to accommodate the pilgrims. Work on the airport is expected to be completed in July 2017.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2017.

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