A producer and supplier of special products
Vega has evolved from a classic refining unit to a producer and supplier of special products obtained exclusively from raw materials supplied by Petromidia. The two refineries of Rompetrol operate in an integrated system obtaining high added-value products.
It is the most long-lasting refinery and played a complex role from its very beginning, acting as a specialized link between all 11 refineries of Romania. Built during the time of Titu Maiorescu, the refinery went through the two World Wars, but it has managed to adapt to the ever-changing environment over the years.
Vega Refinery is the sole producer of normal hexan, bitumen and refined white spirit in Romania.
Vega is the smallest refinery among all 4 refineries in Romania.
Having an installed processing capacity of 350,000 tons/year, it uses different types of raw materials from Petromidia to produce special products with a high added value: solvents, heating oils, bitumen, and additives for a variety of industries (chemical, petrochemical and rubber processing industry, food industry and others).
Vega has a history of over 90 years in producing bitumen for roadworks, with the first installation built in 1927. In 2007 a new installation was completed, for bitumen enhanced with polymers that give it improved elasticity, wear and temperature resistance and a lifespan increased by 50%.
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.
A reliable community member
Vega refinery was strategically located in the north of Ploiești.At that time, it was on the outskirts of the city, which would have allowed a further expansion, in the immediate vicinity of a railway line, which connected Ploieşti and Vălenii de Munte.
The positioning next to the railway line allowed the fast transport of the products obtained from Vega to the port of Constanţa and from here to the buyers from all over the world, and this aspect was essential.
Today, next to the production unit, there is still the housing colony, a community developed during the Second World War for the refinery's employees. During the 1950s, Romania had one of the best oil and gas schools in Europe. Vega has permanently provided well-trained specialists, products and equipment all over the world, not a few being the refineries designed and built from scratch by Romanian engineers.
Lagoons Remediation
The program for remediation and greening of the historical lagoons of Vega Ploiești Refinery is a complex project and one of the largest environmental projects in Romania.
In these lagoons, acid tars and petroleum residues were produced and stored overwhelmingly in the period before the privatization of Vega Ploiesti Refinery (1905-1999 being generated by the crude oil processing methods used in the 160 years history. For example, in the 1980s, Vega was the only producer and supplier of catalysts for the domestic refining industry, and for the other 10 refineries in operation at that time.
The achievement of this comprehensive program implies not only the allotment of extraordinary financial resources but also the adoption of the best available technologies, the most rigorous safety measures and permanent cooperation with all those involved.
History of lagoons
1999
62,000 tons of waste was estimated in the privatization contract
The existing volume in lagoons was at least 4 times bigger
2002-2011
Rompetrol eliminated a total quantity of about 80,000 tonnes of waste from acid tar and oil residues.
2019
The works for the lagoon 18 were completed.
The volume of acid tar and oil residues processed and disposed has reached over 121,000 tons.
2020
Works continued with the lagoons 16 and 17.
Highlights 2023 
374 kt feedstock processed
Mechanical availability - 98.50%
2.33 GJ/mt energy consumption
Key Figures
Results H1 2024
Vega refinery (the only domestic producer of bitumen and hexane); the total raw material processing was around 117 thousand tons in the first half of 2024, down 39% compared to the same period last year, a level determined directly by the low quantities of components received from the Petromidia refinery.
The Vega refinery recorded good operational parameters, with a technological consumption of 0.54%, energy consumption of 2.77 GJ/t and mechanical availability of 98.8%.
Read more about the financial and operational results in H1 2024
Results 2023
The Vega Ploiesti refinery, the only bitumen and hexane producer in Romania, processed approximately 374 thousand tons of raw materials, a level similar to that of 2022.The Vega refinery achieved good operational results in terms of energy consumption – 2.33 GJ/ton, respectively in terms of mechanical availability – 98.5%.
The Vega refinery is the only specialized unit in Romania with the ability to obtain special products, such as road bitumen and that with polymers, hexane, or ecological solvents. Bitumen is sold exclusively domestically, Rompetrol Rafinare having a market share of almost 20% of the national requirement, and products such as hexane and ecological solvents are directed, to a large extent, to foreign markets.
Read more about the financial and operational results in 2023
PETROMIDIA
One of the major sources of authority for Rompetrol Brand is Petromidia refinery, the pillar of the refining industry.
