181.000 k
tons
tons
feedstock processed
Vega Refinery
Vega Refinery – Tradition and Innovation
Vega Refinery is the second refinery within the KMG International Group portfolio, located in Ploiești, Prahova County. The refinery operates under an integrated configuration with the Petromidia Refinery, which supplies its feedstock.
Commissioned in 1905, the Vega Refinery in Ploiești is Romania's longest-operating refinery. From its inception, it has fulfilled a complex and strategic role, serving as a specialized operational link among the country’s refineries.
Over time, the facility has evolved from a conventional crude oil refinery into a specialized producer of niche petroleum products serving a range of industrial applications. These products are manufactured exclusively from intermediate feedstocks supplied by the Petromidia Refinery.
Sole producer of N-Hexane, refined white spirit and bitumen in Romania
With a processing capacity in excess of 350,000 tons of feedstock/year (refined, fuel oil, A1 jet, C5-C6 fraction), Vega Refinery is well positioned as the sole producer for a number of specific products, including: normal Hexane, organic solvents, refined white spirit, and other oil products (naphtha, white spirit, heating fuel, light liquid fuel, road pavement and special bitumen).
The optimization of operations, enhanced process stability, and continuous operation of processing units have generated a significant positive impact, contributing to the achievement of record production levels in 2025:
- 95,300 tons of hexane
- 45,800 tons of eco-friendly solvents
- over 92,000 tons of bitumen
Experience in road bitumen
Vega has a history of over 95 years in production of road bitumen. In 2007, 7 million USD were invested in the first plant for polymer-modified road bitumen in Romania.
Polymer-Modified Bitumen (PMB) is a specialty product used in the wearing course of road pavements. Owing to its enhanced elasticity and superior resistance to wear and temperature fluctuations, it provides:
- 50% increase in service life compared to conventional paving-grade bitumen
- significant reduction in maintenance costs
- 85% improvement in resistance to permanent deformation (rutting)
Bitumen for waterproofing applications is utilized in the manufacture of bituminous cement and in construction waterproofing works.
Vega Refinery is implementing development programs to reach an annual bitumen production capacity of up to 140,000 metric tons, subject to market demand and economic viability.
Projects dedicated to energy efficiency and environmental protection
In the latest years, important projects have been successfully completed at the Vega refinery, with the main role being to reduce the impact on the environment, but also to improve operational efficiency. Among the completed actions, we list:
- Modernization of fuel storage tanks;
- Automation of the vapor recovery unit;
- Modernization of the thermal power plant;
- Installation of the new technological furnace in the Vacuum Distillation installation.
All these actions have reduced the emissions of organic compounds by over 90%, increased the energy efficiency of the refinery and last but not least have contributed to increasing efficiency.
Applications for the products of Vega Refinery of Ploiesti
Chemical and petrochemical industry; rubber industry:
polymerization solvents used to obtain polypropylene and high-density polyethylene in tire industry
Food industry:
food solvents, production of natural protein
Footwear industry:
cleaning agents for textiles and leather
Dye industry:
solvents for varnishes and adhesive components
Vega, a niche refinery in Romania
A small refinery, Vega has a special role in the local industry in Romania through the many industries that depend on the products made here: from the chemical, petrochemical and rubber manufacturing industries to the food industry.
Benefits of the current setup of Petromidia and Vega
Added-value products for the two refineries of KMG International. Vega sources feedstock 100% from Petromidia.
Better performance and enhanced flexibility for Vega Refinery driven by production and sale of 5 added-value products (hexane, ecological solvents such as gasoline SE 65/80 and SE 75/115, light naphta and naphta rich).
Higher margins for Hexane and Organic Solvents as compared to sale of refined products/C5-C6 fraction (product associated with light naphtha) for Steam Cracker, or as component for gasoline with low octane number.
The sole refinery in Romania that produces Refined White Spirit Other finished products associated: heating fuels such as non-industrial fuel type P or Rompetrol calor extra 1.
Finished products obtained: bitumen (road bitumen, bitumen for membranes, modified with polymers), primer (used for the protection of buried metal pipes), liquid fuels (light liquid fuel type 3, Rompetrol Calor Economic type 3, fuel oil type 40/45).
Figures that matter
Results 2025
The Vega Ploiești Refinery, the only producer of bitumen and hexane in Romania, processed approximately 395 thousand tons of feedstock in 2025, a level directly driven by the increased volumes of intermediate components supplied by the Petromidia Refinery. Total feedstock throughput increased by 35.07% compared to the previous year, when 292,789 tons were processed.
In 2025, the refining capacity utilization rate increased by 31.11% year over year.
The Vega Refinery recorded solid operational performance, maintaining low technological losses of 0.76% and an energy consumption rate of 2.42 GJ per ton of processed feedstock.
Read more about the financial and operational results in 2025
| 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
 395.465k
tons feedstock processed
|
 0.76%
technological consumption
|
 2.42Gj/mt
Energy consumption
|
Evolution of Vega Refinery
Hub for the other refineries refinery
from Romania
With Titu Maiorescu as Member in the Board of Directors, Vega Ploiesti started with a production capacity 200,000 tons of crude oil per year. When the refinery was designed in 1905, the particulars of the land were factored in, meaning gravity or natural fall was used to the arrangement of the crude oil tanks and the processing plants.
However, a genuinely outstanding innovation came from the “father” of the refinery, Eng. PhD Lazar Edeleanu, who developed the base process for manufacturing of high-quality oils in Vega.
World War I
In 1915, the oil sector accounted for 63% of the total industrial investments made in Romania. In 1916Vega Refinery was bombarded, which affected its major plants and more than 80% of its 50 tanks.. Major investments in repairs followed, and in 1919, Vega was ranking 2ndof the 46 Romanian refineries.
World War II
Being a strategic facility, the refinery was targeted by bombardments starting with 18 July 1941. Brick walls were erected around tanks, as well as protection walls up to 10 m high to keep safe the plants. One such brickwork-protected tank, and one Ingersoll air compressor dating from 1922 can still be seen operating in the refinery even today.
Establishment of the
Rompetrol Group
In 7 May 1999, Rompetrol acquired the control stock held by the State in the refinery. Following acquisition and integration of Petromidia Refinery in the Group, Vega became a supplier of special products and solutions.
Development
A new dearomatization plant was built.
Construction and development
The bitumen plant is modernized and a new polymer-modified bitumen plant was built.
Development
The capacity of the Hexane plant was increased.
Upgrade
The vacuum distillation plant was modernized.
Remarkable year
Thanks to the investments in recent years, Vega refinery exceeds for the first time 400 kt of processed raw materials (406 kt).
Lagoon Remediation
Continuation of the remedial works at the historical lagoons resulting from the refining activity in the last century, one of the largest ecological operations in the recent history of Romania.
Implementing important investments with significant environmental impact.
$4.2 million USD Modernization at the Vega Ploiești Refinery
Rompetrol Rafinare has completed the modernization of the Vacuum Distillation Unit at the Vega Ploiești refinery, increasing the production yield of road and specialty bitumen, reducing utility consumption and CO2 emissions, thereby strengthening the strategic position of the only unit in Romania capable of producing bitumen.
Vega Ploiești Refinery Celebrates 120 Years
The Vega Refinery, the longest-running unit of its kind in Romania, marks 120 years of activity. Today, it stands as the sole national producer of bitumen, hexane, and solvents, serving as a landmark of continuity in the Romanian refining industry.
