KARACHI, June 18: The CEO of Indus Refinery Limited (IRL), Peter J. Hamill, has said that 65 per cent of the refinery equipment has arrived in Pakistan. While commenting on the arrival of the second and third shipments, he said the project is heading towards in the right direction, says a press release.

He said civil works on the project, under the supervision of SNC-Lavalin, Canada by Descon Engineering, have started at the refinery site, and full-fledged construction is expected to begin at an accelerated pace.

The project will provide over 5,000 jobs for both skilled and unskilled Pakistanis and when completed in early 2009, it would provide over 800 permanent skilled jobs, he said.

The IRL refinery has a design capacity of 100,000 BPCD, which is equal to the country's current largest refinery. Chairman IRL, Mohammad Sohail Shamsi, said by the end of 2009, this mega project would produce 30,000 barrels more.

As a fuel refinery, IRL will produce propane, butane, LPG, high quality unleaded gasoline, kerosene, aviation fuels and low sulphur high speed diesel.

The foreign shareholders have 89.33 per cent shareholding in the company, while the local sponsors have a 10.67 per cent shareholding.