By an OGJ correspondent
KARACHI, Aug. 27 -- Pakistan's fourth largest petroleum products marketing company, Total-Parco Pakistan Ltd., has captured 4.5% of the market share in that country in the first year of its launch into the retail marketing sector. Total-Parco is a joint venture of Pak-Arab Refinery Co. (Parco) with Total SA.
According to a recent Parco media briefing, 36 retail outlets, which dispense Total products, have been established in the country during the first year.
The company has planned to set up about 500 stations across the country with an investment of $100 million in the next decade, it said.
Similarly, another joint venture, Pearl-Gas of Pak-Arab Refinery Co. (Ltd.), which was launched 2 years ago, has secured 15% of Pakistan's total domestic LPG market.
The company is currently marketing "Pearl Gas" in association with the Dutch firm SHV Energy.
With the coming on stream of Parco's refinery operations 2 years ago, the company has begun marketing its fuel products and LPG under the brand name of Pearl.
Under a Technical Services and Support Agreement (TSSA), SHV is marketing 25% of Parco's LPG production as Pearl Gas.
Parco also is marketing OMV AG unit OMV Austria's lubricants through the brand name of "Pearl Lubes."
With the commissioning of the refinery and the consequential availability of petroleum products, it was a natural step for the Parco to enter into the marketing arena and present to the consumers the new Pearl brandname.
Furnace oil and sulfur are also being supplied to industries across the country, as well as "Pearl Lubricants," imported from Austria.
