Up to 2010, Petrobrazi will become the most modern and efficient Romanian refinery

• The first object of the equipment aimed at contributing to the revamping of the Petrobrazi refinery reached Oltenita, after having been transported over 2000 km on water
• The equipment whose overall value rises up to approx. EUR 80M will produce low-sulphur diesels to 10 ppm
• From Oltenita, the hydraulic desulphurization column will be transported on road for one week

Bucharest, April 10, 2007 – The most important object of the hydraulic desulphurization column, part of the investment aimed at modernizing the Petrobrazi refinery reached Oltenita from Turnu- Severin, where it will be transferred from water on land and it will continue its way to the Petrobrazi refinery.

The equipment, with an estimated value of EUR 5M is 30 meter-long, with a 4.5 - meter diameter and an over 400-tones weight. This is one of the heaviest transports ever achieved on the Romanian roads and the heaviest transport in Petrom’s history.

The convoy will be transported on 237 km along the following route: Oltenita, the Eastern border of Bucharest city, Bucharest ring road, Afumati, Urziceni, Albesti Paleologu, Ploiesti ring road, Petrobrazi.

In Bucharest, the convoy will only roll on Saturday and Sunday and only during nighttime. The convoy will be escorted by police cars and intervention teams from electricity and telecommunications companies which will assure the safety of the traffic participants and will manage the electric and telecommunication cable network. The total length of the trailers which transport the equipment is 70 meters (to check)

The hydraulic desulphuration equipment will be integrated in a performing hydrofining technological line by the end of 2008, by which the Petrobrazi refinery will produce low-sulphur diesels and it will align to the European environment policies before 2009 which is the deadline set by the European Union.

Background Information
Petrom SA
Petrom is the largest Romanian oil and gas group, with activities in the business segments of Exploration and Production, Refining and Petrochemicals, Natural Gas, as well as Sales and Marketing. Petrom exploits estimated oil and gas reserves of 1 billion boe, has an annual refining capacity of 8 million metric tons and holds 593 filling stations in Romania. The company also has an international network of 211 filling stations located in Moldova, Bulgaria and Serbia. In 2006 the turnover of Petrom was EUR 3,709 million, EBITDA was EUR 1,020 million. Following the share capital increase OMV, the leading oil and gas group in Central Europe holds a 51,011% share in Petrom. OMV is active in 13 Central European countries in its Refining and Marketing business segment and in 19 countries on five continents in Exploration and Production. The Romanian state holds 30.862% of Petrom shares, Property Fund SA holds 9,887%, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2.026% and 6.214% are owned by minority shareholders.