Petrom buys biodiesel from Martifer

Prio Biocombustibil will open a biodiesel plant in Lehliu Gara in the first half of this year. The mother company, Martifer, plans to strengthen its presence in Romania in the next three years by expanding agricultural activities and investing in a new oil extraction plant, as well as in doubling its biodiesel capacity, says Carlos martins, CEO of Martifer Group. Martifer will have a production capacity of 100,000 tons for biodiesel in Romania.
Another gas supplier, Lukoil, will import biodiesel from an EU member country until the company completes its biodiesel factory within the Ploiesti-based Petrotel refinery.
Lukoil has announced plans to invest EUR 15 million in the biodiesel production unit in Ploiesti with a capacity of 50,000 tons per year.
Starting July this year, companies which produce and sell diesel and gas will have to mix it with biofuels following a state government decision. The biofuel percentages in the gas will have to gradually increase until 2010.
Biofuels are made of renewable resources, like sunflower and corn. Biodiesel reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 90 percent and sulfur emissions by 98 percent.

Corina Saceanu