Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) has sought Rs 293.6 million for up-gradation of petroleum product testing facilities at Islamabad, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar and Quetta, besides ISO certification of petroleum testing laboratory in the federal capital.
A summary of two years project (July 2019-21) has been moved by HDIP to Planning Commission for approval of CDWP. The project has cost Rs 293 million including foreign component of Rs 237 million.
The project is aimed at upgrading POL laboratories of HDIP for testing of locally produced and imported petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel oils, furnace oil, transformer oils, lubricating oils and grease, etc. The project after completion will provide timely and effective quality assurance services to downstream sector. The major part of the up-gradation includes acquisition of the required resources such as replacement of the old equipment with state-of-the-art equipment.
The main objective of the project is to upgrade the existing petroleum testing laboratories of HDIP for providing quality assurance testing services for all POL products at import, export, refineries, storage, transportation, and retailing stages.
The specific objective of the project is purchase of state-of-the-art equipment for the petroleum testing laboratories. The proposed project will enhance the capabilities of the HIDP petroleum testing laboratories at Islamabad and regional testing centres, providing analytical services to two refineries, 46 bulk oil depots and 65 lube oil blending/reclamation plants according to the international standards.
The up-gradation and certification of labs shall provide the following benefits: provision of the quality fuels to the oil industry, general public and the farmers; quality control/testing of POL products as per international standards will help reduce the chances of fuel adulteration, which not only pollutes atmosphere but also damages the machinery and thereby indirectly causes a heavy loss to the government and consumers; and protection of environment, especially of urban areas.