OGRA orders refineries to ensure adequate oil reserves due to Middle East situation

Orders adequate crude, MS, HSD, LPG stocks to prevent supply disruptions amid conflict in Gulf region

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Saturday ordered all stakeholders to make certain and ensure an adequate stock of petroleum products amid the raging conflict in the Middle East unleashed by attacks of Israel and the United States on Iran that prompted retaliatory strikes.

Earlier in the day, the US and Israel jointly launched strikes on Iran that pushed the Middle East into renewed military confrontation and further dimmed hopes for a diplomatic solution to the West’s long-standing effort to denuclearise Iran, despite Tehran’s repeated assertions that it will not pursue nuclear weapons.

In response, Iran targeted Israel and US bases in the Middle East. Explosions were reported in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar.

The OGRA director general released a notification today to all refineries nationwide and relevant divisions to " ensure availability of adequate stocks of crude and petroleum products (MS, HSD & LPG) in the country to avoid any supply disruption" due to the security situation in the Gulf.

"Action taken in this regard may be conveyed under intimation to this office on priority basis," the notification said.