Romania‘s top oil and gas group OMV Petrom said on Monday that it has started the general turnaround of its Petrobrazi refinery, in which it is investing €81.1 mln euro, according to See News.
The process will last six weeks, during which time the refinery’s activity will be halted, OMV Petrom said in a press release.
A refinery’s turnaround comprises various procedures for checking and revamping its installations. The turnaround of the Petrobrazi refinery will involve 25 contracting companies, of which 80% are Romanian.
The process will be carried out with the help of around 6,000 people and will include checks on safety valves and electrical and automation equipment and pressure tests.
“The turnaround will total more than 2 million hours of operations; more than 20 modernization projects and tens of thousands of technical checks and inspections of equipment and installations are planned. This turnaround required two years of preparation and it is mandatory to ensure the smooth and safe operation of the refinery,” said Radu Caprau, member of the OMV Petrom Executive Board.
The company has taken the necessary measures to ensure the fuel supplies necessary for continuity in the supply of the market in Romania and the region for the duration of the turnaround, added Caprau.
Petrobrazi is one of Romania’s major refineries, with a processing capacity of of 4.5 million tonnes of crude oil per year. Between 2004 and 2022, OMV Petrom has invested some 2 billion euro in the refinery. The previous turnaround took place in 2018, and the next one is planned for 2028.
Austria’s OMV Aktiengesellschaft holds a 51.157% stake in OMV Petrom. The Romanian economy ministry owns 20.698% and 28.145% is the free float on the stock exchanges in Bucharest and London.