State of emergency declared in Romania: Oil crisis alarm

Romania has come to the brink of a serious fuel crisis after high levels of organic chlorine were found in crude oil arriving from Azerbaijan. A state of emergency was declared by the government on August 4. The Ministry of Energy stated that the situation threatens national fuel security.

FIRST SHIPMENT DEPARTED FROM CEYHAN, STOPPED AT PORT

The first shipment of 92 thousand tons, loaded from Turkey's Ceyhan Port between July 16–18, was halted during quality control tests conducted by the company OMV Petrom upon its arrival in Romania. It was reported that high levels of organic chlorine were detected in the crude oil during the tests.

Following this finding, the delivery was rejected, and the planned second shipment of 92 thousand tons was also canceled. Thus, a total of 184 thousand tons of crude oil could not enter Romania.

REFINERY UNDER THREAT, NATIONAL RESERVES ACTIVATED

Due to the organic chlorine contamination, the oil shipment intended for the Petrobrazi Refinery, one of Romania's major energy hubs, was disrupted. The Ministry of Energy announced that 80 thousand tons of crude oil and 30 thousand tons of diesel fuel would be supplied from national emergency stocks to prevent the refinery from shutting down.

APPROVAL GRANTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

The Romanian government applied to the European Commission for the use of emergency fuel reserves. With the Commission's approval, the temporary solution was implemented, preventing a potential fuel crisis across the country.

News Source: 12punto