PSO floats tender for 80,000 tons of jet fuel

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has invited international tenders for the import of 80,000 tons of jet fuel (JP-1) during the next four months mainly due to rising demand by Nato troops in Afghanistan.

The tenders floated by the country’s largest oil marketing company also said that it might need additional 16,000 tons between February and April.

‘The imports are being made to meet the growing demand from Afghanistan as additional troops are being sent by the Nato countries there,’ said a senior PSO official.

‘Fuel is not only needed for the active operational requirements but to improve the strategic stocks also for summer, as supply lines are more frequently attacked in summer months,’ the official added.

According to Oil Companies Advisory Committee, (OCAC) the jet fuel sales increased by more than 33 per cent to 423,268 tons during July-October 2009 compared to the previous year.

Official of the OCAC said that domestic travel improved during this year compared to the last year but the major increase was from the export demands.

According to OCAC, Pakistan is currently exporting around 50,000 tons of jet fuel to Afghanistan that includes up to 30,000 tons by PSO, 12,000 and 15,000 tons by Shell Pakistan and 6,000-7,000 tons by Attock Petroleum Limited.

‘To meet the growing demand, the country has imported 199,716 tons of jet fuel during July-November this fiscal,’ the official said.

However, the officials have also said that the imports are on the rise due to declining refinery production in the country.