largest oil refinery in Pakistan – PARCO vs. Byco (Cnergyico)

Pakistan’s energy landscape is shaped significantly by its oil refining capacity. Among the key players, two major refineries dominate the discussion — Pak-Arab Refinery Company (PARCO) and Byco Petroleum Refinery (now Cnergyico). Both play vital roles, but differ in terms of capacity, technology, and strategic importance.

1. Pak-Arab Refinery Company (PARCO) – Mid-Country Refinery (MCR)

• Location: Mahmoodkot, Muzaffargarh, Punjab

• Processing Capacity: 120,000 barrels per day (bpd)

• Key Features:

  • One of the most advanced refineries in the country

  • Equipped with Diesel Hydro-Desulphurization (DHDS) unit, enabling Euro-III compliant diesel

  • Supplies nearly 40–50% of Pakistan’s refined petroleum products

  • Strong infrastructure with cross-country pipelines, storage, and marketing operations

  • Produces a wide range of fuels including diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, LPG, furnace oil, and bitumen

PARCO is widely regarded as the most integrated and modern refinery in Pakistan.

2. Byco Petroleum Refinery (Cnergyico)

• Location: Hub, Balochistan

• Design Capacity: 156,000 barrels per day

• Key Features:

  • Currently the largest oil refinery in Pakistan by design capacity

  • Consists of two units: ORC-I and ORC-II

  • Produces significant volumes of diesel, furnace oil, and LPG annually

  • Undergoing upgrades to meet modern fuel standards like Euro-V

  • Has direct access to crude imports via a Single Point Mooring (SPM) facility

Byco (Cnergyico) leads in terms of raw capacity, though it still faces challenges in utilization and upgrading.

3. Comparison Table of Major Oil Refineries in Pakistan