Petromidia Refinery
The pillar of the refining industry
Petromidia Refinery is the largest refinery in Romania, with a processing capacity exceeding 5 million tons of feedstock per year, and is among the most modern refining facilities in Southeast Europe.
With a history spanning more than 45 years, the refinery commenced operations in 1979 with the start-up of its first Atmospheric Distillation Unit (ADU) and has continuously evolved into a modern, integrated, and regionally competitive industrial complex.
The Petromidia industrial platform spans approximately 480 hectares and is strategically located on the Black Sea coast. The platform hosts more than 20 companies, including partners and subcontractors, forming an integrated industrial ecosystem.
In 2025, Petromidia achieved operational records across all business lines, ranging from the highest crude oil throughput in its history (secured with the support of KMG) to outstanding performance in white product yields (gasoline, diesel, LPG, jet fuel, and propylene), which reached the best level ever recorded by the refinery. Record production levels were also achieved for gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, while process losses remained low. At the same time, energy performance - reflected by the Energy Intensity Index (EII) - reached a new historical low.
Petromidia makes a significant contribution to energy security in Romania and across the Black Sea region. The refinery serves as a key link between trading and supply activities and downstream fuel distribution through the Rompetrol retail network operating in Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, and Georgia.
Strategic positioning at the Black Sea
Petromidia enjoys a strategic position on the shores of the Black Sea, in Navodari, 20 km north of Port of Constanta.
Logistic benefits:
- own marine terminal
- facilities in Port of Midia: berths nos. 1-4 for crude oil and products, and berth no. 9 (A, B and C) for export of oil products.
- own logistic railway system
- access to Danube-Black Sea Canal
The marine terminal is the most important logistic asset of the refinery; it is located 8.6 km at sea, and can received ships of up to 160,000 TDW. With this terminal and the entire logistic system developed by the company in the region, Romania can become a regional energy hub, a connecting platform between the natural resources of Asia and the European demand for feedstock processing and production of oil products.
A complex refinery
Petromidia has a Nelson complexity index of 9.32, and processes crude oil with high sulphur content, obtaining only Euro-5 oil products.
Aligned to the BAT (Best Available Technologies) standards, Petromidia is also the first Romanian refinery to have successfully aligned to the European environmental regulations and fuel quality standards.
In order to achieve the current refinery complexity and ensure full compliance with the environmental requirements of the European Union, the Group invested over USD 450 million.
The refinery has the highest yield of white products in the region (87.07%), and ranks 9th among the 250 refineries in Europe and Africa*.
*Wood MacKenzie 2015
Production units of the refinery
- atmospheric and vacuum distillation units
- full range of hydrotreatment units
This complex set allows the refinery to obtain high yields for its white products.
- one for gasoline
- one for kerosene
- two for diesel
- three conversion units:
- mild hydrocracking
- fluid catalytic cracking
- delayed coker
- new support units, such the sulphur recovery and tail gas treatment unit
- hydrogen, nitrogen and flares plant
- two modern line mixers for gasoline and diesel
150 million USD strategic investments in Petromidia
On the occasion of its 45th anniversary in 2024, Rompetrol Rafinare allocated a total investment budget of nearly USD 150 million, of which USD 85 million was directed toward modernization and development projects for operational assets during the general turnaround of the Petromidia Refinery.
Hydrogen Power Plant (HPP) Modernization
Rompetrol Rafinare, the company that owns and operates the Petromidia refinery, has refurbished the high-purity hydrogen (HPP) plant following an investment of almost 10 million dollars. The most important and complex part consisted of changing the 114 vertical tubes that store the catalyst necessary for the reforming reaction and obtaining hydrogen. The plant has a capacity of 40,000 cubic meters/hour, with a purity of at least 99.99%.
Modernization of the Delayed Coking Unit
One of the primary units at the Petromidia refinery is the Delayed Coking Unit, which plays a crucial role in maximizing the value of crude oil and producing high-value-added semi-finished products essential for the Rompetrol refineries, Petromidia Navodari, and Vega Ploiesti. The recent USD 13 million investment was completed during the Petromidia refinery's turnaround and involved implementing an advanced technological system that optimizes energy consumption and enables remote automated operation. This investment helps reduce environmental impact while also enhancing employee protection and safety.
State-of-the-art reactors installed at the Petromidia refinery
One of the most important projects implemented during the general turnaround of the Petromidia refinery was the investment in two modern reactors, part of the Middle Distillate Hydrotreating (HDV) unit. The role of this unit is to process diesel mixtures resulting from the technological processes of other facilities in the operational flow, aiming to eliminate sulfur compounds and, implicitly, to obtain EURO 5 components for the final production of diesel.
Modernization of the CO Boiler in the Catalytic Cracking Unit
With an investment of approximately four million dollars, the company completed a project to convert the CO Boiler of the catalytic cracking unit (FCC) from natural water circulation to forced multiple circulation. The major transformation consisted in installing a boiler water recirculation system, which makes it possible to operate at a minimum capacity of 35 tons per hour (compared to the original minimum capacity of 50 tons per hour), flow rate which can increase up to a maximum of 90 tons per hour, depending on the needs of the refinery.
Modern Operator Training System Commissioned at Petromidia
Rompetrol Rafinare has launched the first phase of an Operator Training Simulator (OTS) at the Petromidia Refinery, developed with a specialized technology partner and its in-house team. The simulator trains DCS operators, process engineers, and operations staff by replicating complex process scenarios and critical conditions without impacting live operations.
Initially covering the Atmospheric and Vacuum Distillation Unit (AVDU) with around 1,500 control points, it includes modules for operator assessment and procedure optimization, with plans to extend to other units. This initiative supports the company’s broader digitalization, modernization, and workforce development strategy to enhance safety, reduce errors, and boost operational performance.
Figures that matter
Results 2025
In 2025, the Petromidia refinery processed around 5.9 million tons of raw materials, up 27% compared to 2024, resulting in fuel production of 1.7 million tons of gasoline and 3.1 million tons of diesel, and JET (aviation fuel). Of the nearly 4.8 million tons of fuel, 61% were directed to the domestic market.
Petromidia also recorded a historic high in refinery fuel gas production, reaching 205 thousand tons per year. This measure led to a reduction in natural gas consumption, generating a positive impact on processing costs.
Read more about the financial and operational results in 2025
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total feedstock, mt/days in operation
|
16.300tons /day |
15.409tons /day |
14.000tons /day |
15.360tons /day |
16.133tons /day |
|
Total feedstock, mt/year
|
4.58million tons /year |
5.26million tons /year |
5.01million tons /year |
4.62million tons /year |
5.886million tons /year |
White products, %wt
|
86.12
|
85.55
|
84.1
|
86.88
|
87.07
|
Energy Intensity Index, %
|
102.78
|
96.2
|
101.3
|
97.49
|
92.46
|
Mechanical Availability,%
|
95.96
|
87
|
92.44
|
89.75
|
93.20
|
|
Technological loss,%
|
0.82
|
0.80
|
0.66
|
0.77
|
0.78
|
Nelson Index, %
|
9.81
|
9.57
|
9.57
|
9.54
|
9.32
|
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Milestones in the Development of the Petromidia Platform
Read more
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The Petromidia industrial platform was designed to support the development of an integrated industry focused on the valorization of crude oil, with applications in sectors such as synthetic textile manufacturing, petrochemicals, rubber, paints and coatings, and chemical fertilizers. From the outset, the project aimed to establish a fully integrated industrial value chain built around petroleum resources.
To ensure an adequate workforce during the initial operational phase, specialists and employees were transferred from similar industrial complexes across the country to Constanta. In the early years, mobility within the platform was ensured on foot or by personal or company bicycles, approximately 200 of which were made available to employees.
Technological advancement has been a constant feature of the refinery’s development. The first Felix-type computer was introduced in 1985, and the first internet connection was implemented in 1992. Infrastructure modernization continued over time, culminating in 2005 with the inauguration of a modern automated command-and-control center. This facility was designed as a bunker-type structure capable of withstanding severe natural events, including earthquakes.
The platform was also designed with advanced environmental protection solutions. The entire perimeter is surrounded by an underground wall approximately 80-100 cm thick and 4.5 meters high, designed to prevent the migration of potential petroleum product leaks into the soil or toward the sea and the nearby lake. In addition, a complex system of drains and drainage stations continuously regulates the groundwater level beneath the platform.
The platform’s industrial water requirements are supplied through a pumping system drawing water from the Danube–Black Sea Canal, via a pumping station located approximately 30 km away.
After 1990, internal and international economic restructuring led to significant changes in the demand for feedstock used in the synthetic fiber industry. In this context, the platform’s operations were gradually redirected toward the production of fuels and polymers, continuously adapting to market developments and new technological requirements.
Over time, Petromidia has continued to evolve through modernization, innovation, and infrastructure investments, further consolidating its strategic role in the energy and petrochemical industry.
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Refinery Modernization and Capacity Expansion Program
2008 – 2012
The most important engineering project was the program for modernization and refining capacity increase up to 5 million tons per year, amounting to more than USD 450 million.
Key objectives of modernization program:
- Increasing the operational capacity of the refinery up to 5 million tons/year.
- Meeting the EU and Romanian fuel quality standards - Euro-5 (regulation COM (2005) 693)
- Increasing diesel production with 8% (from 37% up to 45%)
- Rendering operation of the refinery compliant with the EU and Romanian environmental regulations (BAT system) (Directive 70/220/EEC)
- Increasing mechanical availability and reliability for the refinery.
The new setup of the refinery includes:
- Modernization of the Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) plant (to process inflows from the Mild Cracking plant).
- Modernization of the existing Claus plant (to reduce NOx emissions).
- Modernization of the VGO hydro-treating to diesel plant (to process the increased future quantity of diesel).
- Modernization of the amine plant (to process additional gas with hydrogen sulphide).
- New Units
- Mild Hydrocracking plant (the key unit of the modernization package).
- The new hydrogen plant (to supply hydrogen to the retrofitted MHC and VGO HDT units).
- A new sulphur recovery plant (to process the future sulphur capacity).
- A new flares system (to support the new units and the existing refineries).
- Increasing the N2 liquid evaporation and automation capacity (to supply nitrogen to the retrofitted refinery).
Key figures - modernization and capacity increase program
| Indicators | 2008 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity in mil. tons/year | 3.5 | 5 |
| Nelson index* | 8.3 | 10.5 |
| Kerosene and diesel %wt | 2.6/38 | 5.5/45 |
| Diesel in mil. tons/year | 1.5 | 2.5 |
| Gasoline in mil. tons/year | 1.3 | 1.4 |
| Kerosene in mil. tons/year | 0.15 | 0.3 |
The community of Navodari developed together with Petromidia
In the 1970s, the land that now hosts Petromidia was largely a swamp, but the ambition and hard work of thousands of people transformed it into one of the most modern refineries in Southeast Europe.
The development of Navodari community was closely linked to Petromidia
Navodari started as a small fishing village but grew significantly over time. In the '80s, it had 26,000 residents, and now it is one of the most important cities in Dobrogea, with 40,000 people living there.
It is not widely known that Petromidia occupies an area of 480 hectares, of which 37 hectares were recovered from the sea. The first pile marked the settlement on July 9, 1976. A considerable amount of effort was invested in ensuring the stability of the land under Petromidia, so that the entire structure can withstand an earthquake of nine degrees on the Richter scale.
The construction activities at the refinery spanned over 13 years, engaging approximately 5,000 to 6,000 workers in the process. The earliest facility, the Atmospheric Distillation Plant, was commissioned in 1979. Over time, Petromidia has grown to encompass 19 primary units and has established itself as Romania's largest refinery.
Evolution of Petromidia Refinery
The first step
was taken
The Romanian State signs the founding decree for Intreprinderea Socialistă de Stat Combinatul Petrochimic Năvodari (The Năvodari Petrochemical Plant Socialist State Enterprise).
The first land consolidation
works began
In order to cover the entire area required to build the platform, 33 hectares were recovered from the sea. Sandy soil was a hard challenge for the engineers, but with the combined eforts of hundreds, the field was ready for what had to become one of the most important industrial points in Romania.
The year that
changed everything
In June 1979, the first installation from the plant was succesfully started: the „Air Distilation”, together with all the technological flow facilities: the crude oil tank, the gas tank and the diesel oil tank. Already in the first year there was a production of 1,25 milion tons of oil products and most of them were sold on the internal market.
The refinery develops more
and more each year
In 1982 were started the Hydrofining Gas System, Catalytic Gas Reforming Systems and the Gas Fractionation systems. We can already speak about a big unit.
A year away, aromatic extraction and
separation facilities were also started
Work starts at the sulfur recovery plant, an extremely important plant today, as the Petromidia refinery processes sulfurous crude oil from the Kazakh steppes.
Starting year for
catalytic cracking
One of the refinery's major facilities, which over time has seen several modernization works. Today, the catalytic cracking unit at Petromidia is considered one of the best in Europe.
The cooker unit was
put into operation
The xylene isomerization and paraxylene ethyl benzene and orthoxylins separation systems are put into operation. In the same year, the carbon-production plant was commisioned, and in the petrochemical sector started the DMT plant.
The beginnings of the
Petrochemicals Division
Pyrolysis installations, Polypropylene, High Density Polyethylenes (HDPE), Low Density Polyethylenes (LDPE) and Ethyl Benzene were started. By the end of 1988, 11,000 tons of polymers exited Petromidia gate, destined for the domestic market, most of the polymers being used for foil manufacturing.
3,6 milion tons of raw
materials processed
From an operational point of view, the Petromidia refinery exceeded for the second consecutive year the 3.6 million tons of processed raw materials step. It is the capacity that has been designed since the 1970s and integrates Petromidia into a refining network meant to process together over 30 million tons each year.
Petrochemical Midia was transformed
into the Petromidia trading company
Immediately after the fall of the communist regime, Petrochemical Midia was transformed into the Petromidia trading company. 70% of the shares go to the State Property Fund (FPS) and 30% to the Private Property Fund (FPP).
The facilities
were upgraded
However, the management of SC Petromidia had the courage to access a repayable loan amounting to 50 million USD, with the help of which, during 1992-1994, the facilities were upgraded. The credit can be considered a true saviour.
1999
After an unsuccessful privatization, the Navodari refinery was caught in an uncertain situation. Decreasing operating results (873,000 tons of crude oil), when the level dropped for the first time in history below the one million tons of crude oil, weighed in a less favorable image of the refinery.
Turning point
for Petromidia
On 20 October 2000, the refinery's turning point came as well. Rompetrol bought the state's shares, and Petromidia was going to enter a new era. The operational result returned to more than one million tons of crude oil processed, and a new look of the largest refinery in the country soon emerged.
Accelerated upgrading
of Petromidia
An ample process of accelerated restructuring and upgrading begins. The first step was the automation program by implementing Distributed Control Systems (DCS). Rompetrol Rafinare becomes the most modern refinery in Romania. The volume of processed raw materials doubles (2.3 million tons).
Refinery of the Year in Central
and Eastern Europe
Rompetrol Rafinare receives the title of "Refinery of the Year in Central and Eastern Europe" from the World Refining Association as a recognition of the success of the restructuring and modernization process. There is also a new installation that appeared: the In-Line Blending.
Command and Control Center of
the refinery is inaugurated
Rompetrol Rafinare was listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. The company is included, in the interest of investors and the positive evolution of the shares, in the selected BET index. Traded under the RRC name, it is one of the most liquid listed companies.
In the same year Petromidia’s Refinery Control and Control Center was put in place, being the only one of its kind at that time in Romania and Southeast Europe.
Increasing refining
capacity
The refinery successfully completes a new series of investments worth 30 million USD. Until 2009, the extensive modernization process amounted to approximately 200 million USD, resulting in a 30% increase in crude oil processing capacity.
The first refinery to produce
Euro 5 diesel fuels
Rompetrol Rafinare signs with DuPont a labor safety consultancy contract, a measure that strengthens the company's policy of achieving a very high level of security in its operations. At the same time, Petromidia becomes the first refinery in Romania to obtain Euro5 diesel (<10ppm), three years before the legal deadline for complying with European standards.
Rompetrol is taken
over by KazMunayGas
2007 is the year when 75% of the Rompetrol shares were taken over by KazMunayGas, the national oil and gas company in Kazakhstan. In the same year, Rompetrol Rafinare receives from Germanischer Lloyd - one of the most important bodies in the field - the certification of the Integrated Management System from the point of view of Health and Safety at Work.
Rompetrol Rafinare starts the
production of Euro 5 gasolines
The refining capacity upgrade program starts, in order to reach 5 million tons/year. The installations are also upgraded, one at a time, and Rompetrol Rafinare starts Euro5 gas production, after total investments in the fuel range of more than 40 million USD. The impact of the new investor is also favorable in the operational results: in 2008, the Petromidia refinery surpassed for the first time in history the 4 million tons of processed oil milestone (4.4 million tons).
KMG International becomes the
sole shareholder of Rompetrol
The majority shareholder acquires the remaining 25% of the shares. Thus, KazMunayGas, through KMG International, becomes the sole shareholder of Rompetrol, which includes, among other entities, two refineries (Petromidia Năvodari and Vega Ploieşti), Rompetrol Downstream and Rominserv.
Strategic partnership
with the Romanian state
The Romanian State became a significant shareholder of Rompetrol Rafinare (with 44,69%). Also an extensive investment program begins to increase the HDPE capacity by 70%.
It has also been possible to optimize costs and diversify the products from the Petrochemicals Division. Practically, we witnessed the successful integration of Petrochemical plants into the Petromidia Refinery Control and Control Center.
The refinery’s capacity building
program has been completed
The programme to increase processing capacity from 3.5 million tons to 5 million tons / year has been completed. The total investment amounted 380 million USD. The works were coordinated by Rominserv, and the whole process involved a stagering number of 280 companies and a total of 3,500 people.
Upgrading the
coking plant
KMGI presented a new successful investment of the refinery: upgrading the coking plant. Work done at over $ 50 million cost has led to an unity of the unit (90% reduction in technology consumption, an annual loss of about $ 3 million, and a reduction in energy consumption).
Petromidia reaches 5 million tons
of processed raw materials
The Petromidia refinery achieves a new record: it successfully passes the 5 million tons of processed raw materials milestone, a level achieved for the first time in history by a refinery in Romania. The exceptional result is directly linked to the investment package allocated by KMGI to increase production capacity. In the same year, new sorts of PP and LDPE are being developed at the Petrochemical Division.
Best Energy Efficiency
Index - 98.6%
Rompetrol Rafinare continues its upward trend, amid constant investment from KMG International. There were recorded: the highest quantity of raw materials processed daily (over 15,000 tons), the highest yield for white products (85.7%) and the best Energetic Efficiency Index (98.6%).
Record production
of fuels
2016 is the best year in history to that point. The record gasoline production (1.25 million tons) and diesel (2.25 million tons) were achieved at the lowest costs for the last 10 years, proof of the efficiency of the Petromidia 2010 investment package. The operational profit of Rompetrol Rafinare amounted to 182 million dollars.
Rompetrol celebrates 15 years of
presence as a brand on foreign markets
Rompetrol celebrates its 15th anniversary since it has begun its presence as a brand on foreign markets, such as Bulgaria or the Republic of Moldova. In 2017, the fuel stations network in the subsidiary countries counted 134 units, and the investments made by KMGI outside Romania were over 50 million USD. Stations in countries like Bulgaria, the Republic of Moldova or Georgia work, overwhelmingly, with fuel produced at the Petromidia refinery.
11 new operational
records
Petromidia achieves 11 new operational records and manages to get close to 6 million tons of processed raw materials (5.92 million tons). Exceptional operational results, amid a more efficient activity, give hope for new records in the year Petromidia celebrated 4 decades. The economic impact of Rompetrol Rafinare in 2018 it contributed to Romania’s State Budget with more than 1.5 bilion dollars.
Petromidia. Four decades
of existence
Petromidia refinery celebrates 40 years of existence. In the four decades we saw a refinery starting from a plant and reaching 19 functional and performant units. At the same time, during the 40 years, the refinery experienced tumultuous, but successful times, especially during the 12 years that have passed since the takeover of KazMunayGas.
Cogeneration Plant
The Kazakh-Romanian Energy Investment Fund signed with Calik Enerji (Turkey) the EPC contract for the turnkey construction of the cogeneration plant on the Petromidia platform.
KazMunayGas Anniversary
Rompetrol celebrates 15 years within the National Oil&Gas Company of Kazakhstan - KazMunayGas.
Maintenance of the marine terminal
Midia Marine Terminal has completed the turnaround of the offshore marine terminal, which ensures the supply of raw materials to the Petromidia refinery.
Petromidia's Anniversary
Rompetrol is celebrating the 45th anniversary of the commissioning of the Petromidia Refinery, currently the largest refinery in Romania and one of the most technologically advanced in Southeast Europe. This moment marks Rompetrol's commitment to sustainable development, with significant company contributions to the regional and national economy and support for local communities.
