By an OGJ Online Correspondent
KARACHI, Feb. 13�Pak-Arab Refinery Ltd.'s $886 million, 100,000-b/d refinery has begun production on an trial basis at about 50% of capacity.
Pakistani ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf will inaugurate the project, at Mehmood Kot, near Multan, Punjab province, on Feb. 19.
Parco is a joint venture of the government of Pakistan, with 60% interest, and the government of Abu Dhabi (through Abu Dhabi Petroleum Ltd.) with 40%.
Petroleum Secretary Abdullah Yousaf sad the plant not only would nearly double the country's indigenous refinery capability but also would ensure availability of petroleum products to the central and northern regions of the country, which account for more than 60% of the country's demand.
He said Pakistan would save about $75 million/year in foreign exchange because products imports would drop.
Shell Pakistan Ltd. recently acquired a stake in the $550 million, 840-km Parco products pipeline project (OGJ Online, Jan. 18, 2001).
