The Vega Ploiesti refinery, operated by Rompetrol Rafinare, started producing a new higher value-added solvent, hexane with a minimum purity of 60%, which supports polypropylene production and the food industry, being supplied to all edible oil factories in Romania.

According to a company press release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday, the production of 60% purity hexane was made possible by optimisations carried out at the N-Hexane installation, as well as by the professionalism of Vega specialists, the only unit of its kind in Romania capable of producing this product. The adjustment of operating parameters followed several quality tests, which also involved additional monitoring to ensure compliance with the new specifications.

'The production of higher purity hexane reflects the company's commitment to innovation, efficiency and adaptation to market needs. We are among the largest producers in Europe and are globally recognised because we export solvents worldwide, including to the most important market, Asia. Expanding the portfolio of high value-added products is a priority direction for us,' said Rompetrol Rafinare General Manager Sorin Graure.

Compared with the minimum 50% purity hexane produced so far, the new grade achieves higher purity, making it suitable for industrial applications requiring a high level of stability. It is used as a solvent in edible oil refining, in the production of adhesives, in the rubber industry, in paint manufacturing and as an industrial degreaser.

According to the quoted source, the new hexane is already available to the company's commercial partners and production will be adjusted depending on market demand and developments in related industrial sectors, with a potential of approximately 150 tonnes per day of solvent hexane with a minimum purity of 60%.

Hexane of the type produced at Vega, normal hexane, is the most widely used grade globally, accounting for around 70% of the total. Its main application is in the food industry, with over 60% of the solvents produced being used for oil extraction.

The new solvent produced by Vega has a higher extraction rate, a lower boiling point, around 69 degrees, and can help partners improve production cost efficiency, with 60% minimum purity hexane supporting higher yields and shorter effective extraction times.

Last year, the Vega refinery produced around 93,000 tonnes of hexane. At national level, consumption is at most 4,000 tonnes, fully covered by Vega. Most of the product is exported to the European market, including Germany, the largest European consumer, France, Poland, Italy, Belgium and the Czech Republic, as well as to Asia, including India, the second largest global consumer after China, and also to Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

In 2026, Vega refinery production plans foresee a similar level to last year, around 90,000 tonnes of hexane.

The performance of the Vega refinery, the sole national producer of bitumen and hexane, is directly supported by the Petromidia refinery, which, through the supply of raw materials such as light gasoline, petrochemical feedstock or fuel oil, contributes to supply security and the development of competitive industrial solutions at European level.

The main shareholders of Rompetrol Rafinare are KMG International, with 54.63% held directly and indirectly, and the Romanian State, through the Ministry of Energy, with 44.7%. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: George Banciulea; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)