This year, Vega Ploiesti, the single producer of bitumen and hexane in Romania, marks 120 years of continuous operation in the oil sector. Established during a period when oil processing was a global first, Vega is among the pioneers of the Romanian refining sector.
“The Vega refinery is an actual illustration of professionalism and adaptability. From the Edeleanu process, which was created in the laboratories of Ploiesti and subsequently applied to 70–80 refineries globally, to the shift to contemporary technologies and products that are essential to maintaining the country’s economy. Since we are the only producer of hexane and bitumen in Romania at the moment, we position ourselves as unique, unconventional refinery with a clear strategic role in the local and regional economy,” said Florian Pop, General Manager of Rompetrol Rafinare. “Vega has been and continues to be a pillar of stability for many partners, having also played an important role in the evolution of the oil industry in Romania, with a tradition of about 170 years.”
The Romanian refinery with the smallest capacity, Vega Ploiesti, produces about 400,000 tons of petroleum products annually, but it adds value to the market by developing niche petroleum products.
Since 2004, Vega refinery no longer processes crude oil and no longer produces automotive fuels, being in perfect synergy with Petromidia refinery in Navodari, which provides the raw material required for its operational flow.
Vega refinery is the only producer and one of the largest in Europe of hexane. This refinery’s special solvent not only fully covers Romania’s domestic demand, but also meets a significant portion of those of other EU members. Hexane is used in various sectors, such as petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and in the food industry, where it is successfully used as an extraction agent.
In addition, the refinery produces road bitumen, which meets 20% of Romania’s internal requirements. All of the bitumen produced is sold on the domestic market. The polymer-modified bitumen, which is notable for its high resistance to wear and temperature variations as well as increased elasticity that can double its service life, is another product that the refinery can produce.
Other products are added to these, like solvents (white spirit), gasoline for chemization (naphtha and light naphtha), heating fuel (calor and light heating oil).
With almost 75,000 tons of raw materials processed in the first quarter of 2025 – a 23% increase over the same period the previous year – the level of production was on the rise.
For the year 2025, Rompetrol Rafinare aims to process volumes in Vega by about 25% to 400,000 tons, and bitumen sales are estimated at 86,000 tons, approximately 15% higher than the previous year, as well as hexane, which is estimated to reach almost 100,000 tons.
The Vega refinery is operated by Rompetrol Rafinare, the company that also runs Petromidia in Navodari, Romania’s biggest refinery.
The significant shareholders of Rompetrol Rafinare are KMG International (54.63%, directly and indirectly) and the Romanian State, represented through the Ministry of Energy (44.7%).
