Romanian refining company Rompetrol Rafinare plans to invest approximately €8.5 million in a 9.4 MW photovoltaic power plant at its Petromidia refinery. The project is intended to extend a programme aimed at reducing reliance on external electricity supplies and improving industrial energy efficiency.
The planned photovoltaic facility is expected to generate more than 9,800 MWh annually. All electricity produced is intended for consumption within the refinery complex. No electricity from the project is planned for sale to the wholesale market.
Financing and project timeline
The investment will receive approximately €2.6 million in non-repayable financing through the Modernisation Fund. Rompetrol Rafinare will provide the remaining €5.9 million from its own resources. Completion is scheduled for the end of 2028.
Cogeneration plant and on-site power integration
The new solar facility follows the commissioning of an 80 MW cogeneration plant at Petromidia at the end of 2025. That cogeneration unit supplies both electricity and process steam, supporting the refinery’s ability to meet its energy requirements through on-site generation.
The solar installation is designed to complement, rather than replace, the existing cogeneration capacity. Cogeneration can provide controllable electricity and process steam, while solar generation adds output during daylight hours without direct fuel consumption. Within KMG International, Rompetrol’s parent group, the combination reflects a broader approach to industrial energy management.
Industrial power costs and market participation
Refineries are energy-intensive industrial facilities where electricity supply costs, operational reliability and fuel efficiency have direct implications for profitability. Producing electricity within the industrial site can reduce exposure to external procurement costs, although the economic benefit depends on the cost of self-generation relative to purchased electricity.
The project also illustrates how relatively modest renewable capacity can be incorporated into a wider capital expenditure programme focused on operating efficiency. Modernisation Fund support reduces the amount of company capital required, which may affect investment economics. However, overall decarbonisation performance will depend on how solar output aligns with cogeneration fuel consumption and broader industrial processes.
Petromidia’s investment reflects a trend among industrial electricity consumers that prioritises renewable assets for production cost and energy exposure management rather than direct participation in wholesale electricity trading.
