Rompetrol to Deliver Euro 4 Diesel Fuel with 2% Biodiesel

Rompetrol Rafinare, part of Rompetrol Group, will deliver Euro 4 grade diesel fuel with a 2% biodiesel content to the domestic market starting 25 June. This is the second Group entity supplying biofuels, following the introduction of Super Ethanol E85 in French filling stations (own and Dyneff). Thus Rompetrol will strengthen its presence on the biofuel market, aiming also at building its own biodiesel producing installation at Petromidia refinery, involving investments estimated at USD 18 million.

Until the completion of the program, biodiesel requirements of Rompetrol Rafinare total some 2,500 tons per month, in line with diesel fuel deliveries to the Romanian market. Supplies come from both imports and domestic market. The first biodiesel amounts are expected by mid June, and suppliers have been selected upon European industry technical standard EN 14214. The loading/unloading feedstock and end-product platform and pertaining tanks have been modernized.

Rompetrol Quality Control (RQC), the laboratories division of The Rompetrol Group, was the first company in Romania authorized to carry out the tests required to situate fuels in the biodiesel range, in compliance with European standard EN 14214. The company can test both oils earned upon vegetal feedstock (sunflower, rape) and fuels marketed in Romanian filling stations that include said add-on (biodiesel).

At present, Rompetrol Rafinare is producing Euro 4 complying fuels. On the other hand, as a result of achieved investments, the company aligned diesel output with the Euro 5 standard, which will be compulsory in Romania starting 2009. Starting this year, and in line with market demand, the refinery can command entire output into being Euro 5 compliant.

Rompetrol Rafinare has scheduled, over the following two years, investments totaling USD 250 million and aims at boosting refining capacities up to 5 million tons/year, which comprise a significant impact in employed technologies and environmental protection. Ever since The Rompetrol Group took over the Petromidia refinery (Rompetrol Rafinare Constanta) in 2001, the company allocated some USD 225 million for operational and environmental protection related investments, of which some USD 40 million were direct environmental protection investments.

An important step to ensuring diesel fuel quality was achieved last year thanks to the commissioning of the Diesel In Line Blending equipment, a greenfield investment worth close to USD 7 million, which also allows for biodiesel blending in a controlled amount.