OCAC urges oil sector to ensure fuel supply amid flood risk

KARACHI: The Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) has urged refineries and oil marketing companies (OMCs) to adopt precautionary measures to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply and safe operations across the country amid severe flooding.

The council held a detailed meeting on Monday (September 1) with representatives from the oil industry, including refineries and OMCs, to assess the evolving flood situation in Punjab and its expected arrival in Sindh, which has been described as a potential ‘super flood’.

The OCAC advised member companies to maximise product upliftment from refineries and pipelines and maintain depot and terminal stocks at a minimum of 80 per cent of safe operating levels. It also called for adequate transhipments on wheels to meet immediate supply needs, keeping petrol pump tanks topped up, and implementing emergency response protocols to avoid hazards such as electrical short circuits and water ingress into tanks.

The meeting noted that floods have severely impacted agricultural land, which may alter demand patterns for petroleum products, particularly high-speed diesel (HSD), during September and October 2025. Supply planning will be reviewed accordingly.

Refineries assured the council of ample product availability to meet demand, while OMCs pledged full coordination to ensure adequate supply. The OCAC said it would continue to monitor the situation and convene further meetings as conditions evolve. Industry members have also been asked to report any untoward developments immediately.