Press release - November 24, 2021
We mention that Rompetrol Rafinare responded immediately to the request of the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice, Directorate of Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism - Ploiesti Territorial Service and, as always, cooperated with judicial authorities and provided all documents and the information necessary to resolve the investigation. To date, none of Rompetrol Rafinare's employees have been previously cited to provide further details on the progress of this project.
For a correct understanding in the public opinion, we want to make the following clarifications:
- In 2019, Rompetrol Rafinare announced the continuation of the greening program of the historic lagoons within the Vega Ploieşti refinery, which involves the treatment of tar waste and its transformation into a stable and solidified waste, deposited in previously cleaned and waterproofed cassettes, being eliminated in this way the possible dangers for human health and the environment, as well as the recovery by co-incineration in authorized units (cement factories).
- At the time of the privatization of the Vega Ploiesti refinery - 1999, the amount of waste that the future shareholder would take over for greening was estimated at about 62,000 tons, later finding that the existing volume in the lagoons is at least 6 times higher. Respecting its commitment under the privatization contract, Rompetrol has eliminated, to date, a total amount of 142,000 tons of waste, the costs incurred by the company being 26.14 million dollars.
- Regarding the situation of lagoon 18, the works for its emptying of acid tars and oil residues were carried out until 2009. In the period 2009 - 2015, in this lagoon were collected, due to precipitation / infiltration, other quantities of contaminated water and soil.
- Thus, the works in lagoon 18 were resumed in 2019, greening works being continued and finalized, including installation of a sensor system to monitor the condition of the waterproofing membrane and, finally, the disposal of treated waste, according to legal requirements.
- All amounts invested by the company for the realization of this project were provided from internal resources, no public / European funds or state aid were requested.
- The lagoons reflect the evolution of the refining industry in over 160 years, with acid tar and oil residues being overwhelmingly resulting and stored in the period before the privatization of the Vega Ploieşti refinery (1905-1999), resulting from the use of a primary crude oil processing technology, based on the use of sulfuric acid. Waste existing in the lagoons has inhomogeneous physicochemical properties and characteristics, such as the level of acidity or density, the differences being generated by the crude oil processing methods that have been used in the past, as well as by the refined products obtained.
- Currently, Rompetrol Rafinare is in the process of greening the L16 and L17 lagoons and will continue the works in all remaining lagoons, given that the project to rehabilitate them at the Vega refinery is essential to be carried out properly, the company granting special and constant attention to improving environmental conditions.
- In the current economic context, the company pays special attention to improving environmental conditions and takes the necessary steps to meet the environmental obligation, by allocating significant financial resources.
Rompetrol Rafinare will continue to act with the utmost diligence, both in order to protect its rights and to cooperate with the judicial authorities.
We are also confident that the investigation will be resolved as soon as possible and we will cooperate, as before, with the competent authorities, to the extent that further details and / or clarifications are needed.
Department of Communication and Public Relations
KMG International