Fuelling Logistics from Refinery to Retail

Overview

This study examines the operational resilience of Romania's petroleum refining sector following EU sanctions on Russian oil imports. The research focuses on three major refineries—Petrobrazi, Petrotel, and Petromidia—analyzing their production trajectories, market positioning, and adaptive supply chain management across a five-year period (2019-2023). The investigation addresses how these facilities maintained operational continuity through supplier diversification and leveraged existing infrastructure networks to sustain domestic fuel distribution.

Methods and approach

The analysis employs descriptive statistical methods to evaluate production performance dynamics and market share trends in refined petroleum output over the 2019-2023 period. Empirical research incorporated direct study of supply chain configurations for the three focal refineries, encompassing sourcing patterns, storage infrastructure, and retail distribution networks. Methodology included geospatial mapping of fuel storage facilities and filling station networks to delineate market coverage and logistics infrastructure dependencies, with particular attention to multimodal transportation systems including pipelines, rail networks, and port facilities.

Key Findings

Analysis demonstrates that the three refineries maintained operational output through strategic reconfiguration of import sourcing, substituting Russian crude oil with supplies from alternative geographic origins. The interconnected infrastructure network—comprising pipeline systems, railway corridors, and port facilities—proved instrumental in equilibrating onshore and offshore import flows. Findings indicate differential reliance on these modal infrastructure components and highlight the geographic distribution and capacity constraints of storage and retail delivery networks serving the domestic market.

Implications

The research underscores the systemic importance of integrated multimodal logistics infrastructure in sustaining refining sector resilience under supply-side disruption. Diversification of crude sourcing and full utilization of existing transportation and storage capacity emerged as critical mechanisms for maintaining output continuity absent Russian feedstock. Results suggest that infrastructure interconnectivity functions as a buffer against geopolitically-induced supply shocks, though specific refinery-level capacities may impose operational constraints on substitution flexibility.