The Vega Ploieşti Refinery, operated by Rompetrol Rafinare, has started producing a new solvent with increased added value – hexane with a minimum purity of 60% - which supports polypropylene production and the food industry, and is supplied to all edible oil factories in Romania.
The production of 60% purity hexane was made possible by optimizations carried out in the N-Hexane unit, as well as by the professionalism of the specialists at Vega, the only Romanian refinery with the capacity to obtain this product. The adjustment of operational parameters was achieved following several quality tests, which also involved additional monitoring to ensure compliance with the new specifications.
“The production of high‑purity hexane reflects the company’s commitment to innovation, efficiency, and adapting to market needs. We are one of the largest producers in Europe and are recognized worldwide, as we export solvents all over the world, including to the most important market, the Asian market. Developing a portfolio of high-value-added products is a priority direction for us,” said Sorin Graure, General Manager of Rompetrol Rafinare.
Compared to the hexane with a minimum purity of 50% produced to date, the new grade achieves a higher purity, making it suitable for industrial applications requiring a high level of stability. It is used as a solvent in the refining of edible oils, in the production of adhesives, in the rubber industry, in the paint manufacturing industry, and as an industrial degreasing agent.
The new hexane is already available to the company’s commercial partners, and production will be adjusted depending on market demand and the evolution of related industrial sectors, with a potential of approximately 150 tons/day of solvent hexane with a minimum purity of 60%.
The type of hexane produced at Vega (normal hexane) is the grade with the highest worldwide share – about 70% of the total. Its main application is in the food industry, where over 60% of the solvents produced are used for oil extraction.
The new solvent produced by Vega has a higher extraction rate, a lower boiling temperature (around 69 degrees), and can help partners optimize production costs, as hexane with a minimum purity of 60% ensures higher yields and shorter effective extraction times.
Last year, the Vega refinery produced around 93,000 tons of hexane. At the national level, consumption is at a maximum of 4,000 tons, fully covered by Vega. Most of the product reaches the European market (Germany – the largest European consumer, France, Poland, Italy, Belgium, and the Czech Republic) and the Asian market (India – the world’s second‑largest consumer after China, but also in Pakistan or Uzbekistan).
In 2026, the Vega refinery’s production plans foresee a level similar to last year, around 90,000 tons of hexane.
The performance of the Vega refinery, the only national producer of bitumen and hexane, is directly supported by the Petromidia refinery, which, by supplying raw materials (light gasoline, chemical raffinates, or fuel oil), contributes to supply security and the development of competitive industrial solutions at the European level.
The significant shareholders of Rompetrol Rafinare are KMG International (54.63% – direct and indirect) and the Romanian State, through the Ministry of Energy (44.7%).
Corporate Communication and Public Relations
KMG International