Rompetrol Downstream, the retail division of The Rompetrol Group, will launch tomorrow 15 December a new fuel, Super Diesel Euro 5, which complies with the Euro 5 standard, and which will be mandatory in the EU starting from 2007 and in Romania starting from 2009.

“The Euro 5 diesel is welcomed by the new diesel engines, which are aimed at diminishing toxic emissions. To this end, we estimate a 10% rise of diesel fuel sales, considering that the product performs excellently down to -26 degrees Celsius,” stated Dan Roşu, the new Rompetrol Downstream CEO.

The fuel, which has low sulfur content (concentration below 10 ppm) is targeted especially at vehicles fitted with catalyst devices and injectors, and has a significant role in diminishing the greenhouse effect and in improving air quality.

“For the beginning, the fuel will be available in some 60 Rompetrol-owned filling stations, and will gradually replace Euro 4 diesel. By the end of the year, Super Diesel Euro 5 will be sold throughout the entire Rompetrol-owned filling stations network,” added Dan Roşu.

The weight of this new fuel produced by Rompetrol Rafinare (Petromidia refinery) in the total diesel output follows a rising trend, and is set to reach some 35% soon. Switching to said fuel confirms the refinery's performance, after the entire diesel products output fell in line with the Euro 4 standard (sulfur content below 50 ppm) last year.

Since last October, Rompetrol markets exclusively Euro 4 products in owned and partner filling stations. The change was achieved simultaneously with the launch of the new range of engine-protecting fuels: Efix (unleaded gasoline with octane number 95, complying with the Euro 4 standards and having engine protective role).

The array of fuels available starting 15 December in the Rompetrol network will be as follows: Efix range, Premium E4 (gasoline having octane number 95, standard Euro 4), Super Euro 98 (unleaded gasoline having octane number 98, standard Euro 4) and Super Diesel Euro 5.