Rompetrol taps into power business

Petroleum group Rompetrol, run by businessman Dinu Patriciu, will invest 40-44 million euros to build a cogeneration thermoelectric power station in Midia. Following this investment, Rompetrol will become an electricity supplier on the free energy market, as only part of the energy produced in Midia will be used by the Petromidia refinery and the company’s filling stations. The surplus will go to the national energy system. “In order for such an investment to be profitable, production capacity must exceed 110 MW,” says Dinu Patriciu, chairman of the Rompetrol group. “Midia currently uses some 40-45 MW but this level will go up to 80-90 MW, as new equipment becomes functional,” added Patriciu. According to the Rompetrol official, plans for the building of the thermoelectric plant are already at an advanced stage and are to be completed by the end of this year.