A Petrom fuel tank at the Petrobrazi refinery
Petrom refining hit by utility costs hike
Romanian refiner posts improved economics, but ancillary costs drag
OMV Petrom, operator of Romania’s 4.4mn t/yr (88,400bl/d) Petrobrazi refinery, saw the operating result for its downstream oil business double year-on-year in the final quarter of 2021, on the back of a more favourable refining margins environment and strong demand. But, like several European refiners, the increasing price for gas and power used in its refinery, as well as the rising cost of carbon, weighed on its performance. The firm’s downstream unit made RON550mn ($126.5mn) in Q4, up by 100pc from the same quarter last year. For 2021 as whole, the unit’s operating profit was RON2bn compared with RON1.45bn in 2020. Petrobrazi’s utilisation rate has been above 90c for the past three quarte
Also in this section
10 March 2026
From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power
10 March 2026
By shutting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has cut exports of distillate-rich Middle Eastern crude, jet fuel and diesel, and is holding the energy market hostage
10 March 2026
Eni’s director for global gas and LNG portfolio, Cristian Signoretto, discusses how demand will respond to rising LNG supply, and how the company is expanding its own gas and LNG operations through disciplined, capital-efficient investments
9 March 2026
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent
