Final testing underway at the Cogeneration Plant on the Petromidia Navodari Platform

The Kazakh Romanian Energy Investment Fund (KREIF), through its subsidiary Rompetrol Energy, is in the final phase of its most important investment project — the cogeneration plant at Petromidia. By the end of August, the investment of over $160 million will be fully integrated with the Petromidia refinery and the National Energy System (NES).   The latest developments were presented to top-level representatives of the two strategic partners within KREIF: Bulat Zakirov — Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of KazMunayGas (KMG), the national oil and gas company of Kazakhstan; Erik Sagiyev, CEO of KMG International (Rompetrol); and Bogdan-Gruia Ivan, Romania’s Minister of Energy.   “The cogeneration plant project is the result of many years of teamwork by engineers, designers, and specialists from Romania, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. It is one of the largest energy efficiency projects in the Dobrogea region in recent years, implemented with the full support of the Romanian Ministry of Energy. The plant will reduce the energy dependence of the Petromidia refinery, optimize costs, ensure a reliable supply of electricity and steam, and strengthen strategic control over energy supply within the KMG International Group (Rompetrol)”, stated Bulat Zakirov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of KazMunayGas.   Between February and June 2025, start-up and compliance tests of the two gas turbines were conducted. The measurement and control systems, as well as the natural gas and refinery gas supply systems, were checked, and the steam systems were prepared for supply to Petromidia.   A major milestone was reached in March and April when the two SGT-750 turbines were fully synchronized with the national energy system, in all configurations, and began the actual production of electricity. Since the beginning of testing, over 11,000 MWh of electricity have already been produced and directed to both the Petromidia refinery and the National Energy System.   Starting in July, the plant will be capable of supplying both electricity and steam to Rompetrol Rafinare, as steam production begins in the recovery boilers. By the end of August, full performance testing will be completed, certifications and authorizations will be obtained from the relevant authorities, and final commissioning will be carried out. Currently, the plant is being operated by a mixed team composed of representatives from the contractor and the companies that supplied the main equipment (gas turbines, boilers, control rooms, etc.).   The plant will generate nearly 80 MWh, fully covering the energy needs of the Petromidia platform (60–70 MWh), while also supplying up to 180 tons per hour of technological steam, meeting maximum consumption needs. The surplus electricity will be fed into the National Energy System.   The most important installed components, the SGT-750 turbines, use gaseous fuel (a mix of natural gas and refinery gas) with a heating rate of 9,120 kJ/kWh, and each generates approximately 39 MWh of electricity.   The new cogeneration plant will significantly support the operational processes of the Petromidia refinery as well as its financial performance. At the same time, it will play a major role in balancing electricity production and distribution in the Dobrogea region by meeting the platform’s energy needs and injecting surplus power into the national system.   The Kazakh Romanian Energy Investment Fund was established in October 2018 by KMG International (80%) and the Romanian Energy Participation Management Company (20%), with the main strategic goal of developing energy projects in Romania.  (Photo:KMG Rompetrol)