First deep conversion refinery planned in Hub, minister told

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan met a delegation from SPEC Refinery (Pvt) Ltd, headed by chairman Zafar Sheikh, to discuss plans for what is being described as Pakistan’s first deep conversion greenfield refinery in Hub, Balochistan.

During the meeting, the company delegation briefed the minister on the project’s progress and said the refinery would be strategically important for the country’s energy security, lower dependence on imported refined petroleum products and support industrial development.

According to the briefing, the proposed facility will use advanced deep conversion technology designed to maximise output of higher-value petroleum products while being able to process a broad range of crude oil grades from international markets.

The delegation asked the government to support implementation of the Greenfield Refinery Policy and to help expedite the remaining regulatory approvals required from the Federal Board of Revenue so the project can move ahead on time.

Company representatives said the refinery would be a major long-term investment in Pakistan’s energy sector and could also encourage the development of downstream petrochemical industries. They informed the minister that groundwork on the project has already begun and that future implementation strategies are being finalised.

Zafar Sheikh told the minister the refinery is expected to generate around 2,000 direct and indirect jobs in Hub and nearby areas during construction as well as after it becomes operational. He said the project would also support regional economic activity, improve skills, facilitate technology transfer and contribute to industrial expansion.

Jam Kamal welcomed the proposed investment and said Pakistan had significant scope for large-scale industrial and energy ventures because of its strategic location linking South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and western China. He also pointed to the country’s market of more than 250 million people, expanding trade corridors and connectivity initiatives as factors that could help position Pakistan as a regional centre for trade, energy, logistics and manufacturing.

In remarks shared during the meeting, the minister said strategic investments of this kind could strengthen industrial capacity and attract long-term domestic and foreign capital.

"Pakistan possesses tremendous untapped potential in refining, petrochemicals, logistics, and value-added manufacturing. Strategic projects such as the Hub refinery can play a vital role in strengthening industrial capacity, enhancing energy security, creating jobs, and attracting long-term foreign and domestic investment," he said.

The delegation also outlined a broader plan linked to the refinery, including associated petrochemical facilities for the production of industrial feedstock and other value-added products that could support Pakistan’s manufacturing sector and create additional export opportunities.