Local Refineries Recommend Pakistan Railway to use Domestic Diesel
According to reports, Pakistan Railways (PR) rejected to use of locally manufactured diesel in its engines without providing a technical explanation. In a letter dated May 31, 2024, the CEO of Attock Refinery wrote to the secretary/chairman of the Railways Division, stating that Pakistan Railways had specified a minimum flash point of (66 degrees Celsius) in their tenders for the supply of high-speed diesel (HSD). This minimum temperature was intended only for HSD that was imported, rather than the approved (54 degrees Celsius) for HSD produced at local refineries. Due to this unusual feature, Pakistan Railways is unable to use locally generated diesel, forcing it to rely on imported fuel. After several letters and discussions between the local refineries and the Railways officials, reports claim that this matter has remained unsolved for many years.
Upon speaking with Adil Khattak, chief executive officer of Attock Refinery Ltd., he expressed his failure to explain Pakistan Railways’ demand on using requirements for only imported diesel with a flash point of (66 degrees Celsius), given that many other countries including the (United States, Canada, the European Union, Japan, China, South Korea, India, as well as South America) use locally produced diesel with flash points that are equal/lower than Pakistan’s. In May 2021, Pakistan Railways’ own Committee verified that there is no problem with using (54 degrees C) Flashpoint, a high-speed diesel.
However, the problem is not resolved. “We additionally handed over copies of Indian Railways tender identifying (35 degree C) flash point which is significantly lower than Pakistan’s specifications for locally produced diesel,” he continued. Evenly, Khattak went on to say that previous Railways ministers and CEOs can personally surround him over this problem. Still, for some reason, the strange situation goes on, resulting in the loss of valuable foreign cash as well as the dependence of an important resource on imported gasoline. Furthermore, he showed hope that the current minister, chairman, as well as chief executive officer, would resolve this long-standing problem as soon as possible by making a favourable decision.
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