What's Delaying Refinery Upgrades? | Nukta Business

In an exclusive interview with the CEO of National Refinery Limited (NRL), Mr Asad Hasan, we discuss the high-stakes future of Pakistan’s energy security. Following recent high-level Petroleum Division meetings, the refining sector has been declared a critical strategic asset, but massive structural bottlenecks remain. In this deep dive, we unpack how the US-Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz tensions are shifting NRL from spot purchases to long-term contracts, and whether diversifying the refinery's 'Crude Slate' with Russian or African grades is technically viable. We also address the multi-billion-dollar question: Will the upcoming 2026–27 budget finally resolve the Sales Tax "exempt vs. zero-rated" issue? Watch to discover the technical configurations NRL is deploying to solve the "Furnace Oil Problem" via bottom-of-the-barrel processing, how they are protecting Gross Refinery Margins (GRMs) against rising IFEM costs, and the exact timeline for their Final Investment Decision (FID) on Euro-V diesel and gasoline production. #nukta #nuktabusiness #nrl #refinery #pakistanenergy #petroleumindustry Follow us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... Instagram:   / nuktabusiness   TikTok:   / nuktabusiness   X: https://x.com/NuktaBusiness