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ENVIRONMENT

Rompetrol Rafinare plays a crucial role in Romania's energy sector, with its Petromidia and Vega refineries. These two units collectively account for 44.6% of the local refining capacity and have the capability to fulfill 70% of the internal demand for fuels, positioning Rompetrol Rafinare not only as a key player in the market but also as a significant contributor to Romania's energy.

We have created an Environmental Management Framework which encompasses a holistic Environmental Management program, rigorous environmental aspect assessments, targeted investment programs, and a proactive approach to waste management, all designed to mitigate the environmental impact of our activities and contribute positively to our communities and the planet.

Our operations are meticulously regulated under Integrated Environmental, Water, and Greenhouse Gas (CO2) Permits, issued by competent environmental authorities in line with applicable legislation. Rompetrol Rafinare continues to maintain its certifications according to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001 standards, International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC), aligning with the sustainability requirements of Directive 2009/28/EC (RED).

As SEVESO sites, the Petromidia and Vega refineries adhere to stringent regulations under Law 59/2016, focusing on the control of major accident hazards involving dangerous substances.

The first directions set forward through our decarbonization strategy aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions involve:

• CO₂ recovery from the current Hydrogen Production Plant, 120 kt/year capacity
• Renewable energy generation - 100 MW solar PV and 100 MW wind
• Co-processing of vegetable oils to produce HVO
• Building a new bioethanol plant

Materials 

Throughout 2023, Petromidia Refinery processed a total of 5.01 million tons of feedstock, marking a slight decrease of 4.7% compared to the previous year, when 5.26 million tons were processed. This adjustment in volume can largely be attributed to the operational impacts following the incident on 21st June at the 220 P12 pump in the Petromidia refinery, specifically affecting the Mild Hydrotreater unit.

In 2023, Vega Refinery demonstrated notable progress in the strategic management of raw materials, processing over 374 ktons.

Energy 

We monitor on a daily basis several energy efficiency indicators. These indicators are influenced by the increasing complexity of the refining units following the extensive development initiatives, the subsequent higher throughput, along with energy efficiency measures (low cost/no cost) & dedicated projects aimed at reducing energy consumption while optimizing operations.

Water 

Rompetrol Rafinare has dedicated internal procedures in place, which document water management, covering quality monitoring, verification and maintenance of wastewater transport facilities, sealing and isolation of structures/basins, monitoring of technological processes, checking the quality of process water from intake to discharge.  

Water management is performed in compliance with the requirements of Water Permits, issued every 3 years. 

All specific pollutants (mentioned in the permits) are monitored in the discharged water, with different frequencies (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly). Water analyses are performed by ISO-17025 accredited laboratory.

In 2023 there was no exceeding of the concentration value limits for pollutants discharged, whereas the water recirculation coefficient was 97% for cooling water.

BIODIVERSITY 

Our biodiversity policy recognizes the crucial importance of biodiversity resources worldwide, as well as our company's direct and indirect impact on these resources and our dependence on them.

For each new project, prior to implementation, we conduct an environmental impact assessment which identifies, describes, and evaluates the significant direct and indirect effects of the following factors: 1. population and human health; 2. biodiversity, paying special attention to protected species; 3. land, soil, water, air and climate; 4. material assets, cultural heritage and landscape.  

Rompetrol Rafinare – Petromidia (Năvodari) is located near Natura 2000 Sites, the Tașaul Corbu Lakes and the Black Sea. Also, the last stage of the Wastewater Treatment Plant is located on the territory of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. 
 

EMISSIONS 

New projects capable of reducing GHG emissions (high cost/high impact on CO₂ reduction):  

• Co-processing of vegetable oils in 125-Diesel Hydrotreater (DHT) – unit revamp in order to process spent or fresh vegetable oils for producing Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils – HVO.
• SAF production from vegetable and animal feed stock - under technical analysis
• New Bioethanol Plant – 50 kt/year capacity, second generation biofuel (study required for feed availability)
• Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)/Carbon Capture and Usage (CCU)- under analysis
• Production and utilization of Green H2 in the Refinery - under technical analysis.

The technologies and strategies we are investigating or piloting hold significant potential for GHG emissions reduction:  

• the capture and storage/usage of approximately 120 kt/year CO2.
• increasing the share of biofuels in conventional fuels.
• generating renewable energy through solar PV and wind projects.

 

Petromidia Refinery  

The primary source of CO2 emissions falls under SCOPE 1, which includes emissions generated by both stationary and mobile equipment.

Petromidia Refinery Total GHG emissions in 2023 (SCOPE 1+ SCOPE 2 + SCOPE 3) was 4,965,248.48 tons to CO2e.

See the detailed calculation of our emissions in the Sustainability Report 2023.

In terms of air quality assessment, Petromidia Refinery relies on the Aria soft provided by Aria Technologies to monitor and predict the dispersion of pollutants in the vicinity of the Petromidia platform, in compliance with Romanian and European Union regulations. The ARIA application models the dispersion of pollutants such as SO2, NOx, CO, PM, VOC, and H2S during normal oper-ations by gathering online data from the activities conducted on the Petromidia platform. To ensure accurate modelling of pollutant dispersion into atmosphere, meteorological data from the local weather station is also considered.

   

Vega Refinery 

Direct GHG emissions (Scope 1) operational -41,553 to CO2e and Equity share 22,980.4 to CO2e (55.30%).

GHG Emissions Intensity in VEGA Refinery was 0.111 to CO2/ to Total Feedstock Processed

* CO2 – scope 1, direct emissions (stationery and process, related to EU ETS Directive)

WASTE 

The waste generated by the company was managed in accordance with the legal provisions on waste management, embedded in internal procedures and instructions.

In 2023, Petromidia Refinery had 95% of total waste generated sent for recovery, and the remaining 5% disposed of. This marks a slight improvement compared to 2022, where 92% of waste was recovered, including processes such as (co)incineration with energy recovery, and 8% was disposed of, primarily consisting of household waste. The trend reflects a consistent effort to enhance waste recovery rates over the years, although there was a slight dip from the 98.5% recovery rate achieved in the previous reporting period, with only 1.5% disposed of.

Vega Refinery has contracts with authorized companies for the collection, transport and recovery/disposal of waste generated by the activities carried out on the entire site. 

Historical Waste (not resulting from normal production) from Vega Refinery landfill (14 lagoons) is located on the northern side of the refinery platform and covers an area of approximately 82,450 m². The lagoons have waterproof layers of compacted soil and bentonite.  

There's an ongoing project aimed at greening these lagoons, entailing the treatment of existing waste and subsequent storage in cells waterproofed in compliance with Order 757/2004.

In 2023, no spills were recorded by either Petromidia or Vega refineries.