Environmental Project at Vega Refinery – Lagoon remediation
Project Overview
Rompetrol is implementing one of Romania’s largest environmental projects, focused on the remediation of the historical lagoons at the Vega Refinery. This ambitious effort targets the elimination of over 300,000 tons of waste accumulated over decades.
A Historical Problem, A Modern Solution
The historical lagoons resulted from improper waste disposal practices carried out before the privatization of the refinery in 1999. For decades, waste was deposited without regulated technical solutions or a clear legislative framework governing such operations.Rehabilitating the lagoons demands significant financial resources, careful and responsible technology selection, the strictest safety measures, and continuous collaboration with competent environmental authorities.
With the support of the local community and public authorities, we are committed to completing this ambitious project, transforming a historically polluted area into a revitalized, green space.
We assure all residents near the refinery that our contractors, under the close supervision of Rompetrol Rafinare specialists, are making every effort to minimize the impact on the local community.
Project Background
Nearly a Century of Industrial Legacy
Between 1905 and 1999, the Vega Ploiești Refinery deposited acid tars and petroleum residues into its historical lagoons, primarily from operations conducted before privatization.For example, during the 1980s, Vega was the only producer and supplier of catalysts for Romania’s domestic refining industry, serving 10 refineries nationwide.
The accumulated petroleum residues display diverse physical and chemical properties — varying in acidity, density, and composition — depending on the refining technologies used across more than 160 years of local industrial activity.
A Waste Volume Far Beyond Initial Estimates
Upon privatization in 1999, Vega Refinery, now part of Rompetrol Group, assumed responsibility for remediating an initially estimated 62,000 tons of waste.However, subsequent assessments revealed that the total waste volume exceeded this estimate by more than five times.