Florian Pop, General Manager of Rompetrol Rafinare: In a refinery everything is interconnected, and we can be proud with our dedicated people and very good professionals

A journey into the refinery’s past and present
Over 45 years ago, Petromidia began writing its history on the seashore, in Năvodari. The decision to locate the refinery was made after a helicopter flyover, determining that the current location met all the essential conditions: proximity to the sea, a town that could be developed, and a vast amount of available space.
Continuous modernizations supported by the sole shareholder, KazMunayGas, such as the major investment project in the period 2008-2012, increased the refinery’s capacity to 5 million tons, consolidating its status as a national and regional leader.
Petromidia is a refinery with a high complexity index and processes high-sulfur crude oil, obtaining exclusively Euro 5 products. Petromidia works integrated with Vega, the second refinery of the Group, to which it sends semi-finished products that result in value-added products. Vega is the only local producer of road bitumen and polymer-modified bitumen.
Also within the Petromidia refinery, the only petrochemical unit in Romania operates. In 2008, the refinery put into operation the only marine terminal, located 8.6 km from the Midia Port, which supplies the refinery with crude oil through underground and land pipelines. In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Petromidia developed a new petrochemical grade, used for the filter material in protective masks, thus marking a continuous adaptation of the refinery. After years of successive financial losses, caused by market volatility, 2022 was one of the best years in Rompetrol’s history. Petromidia is one of the main engines of industries in the region, with new production records.
Evolution, adapting to the new demands of the present and alignment with current trends are essential for any company, even more so when we are talking about a refinery. This requires investments, but also dedicated people, good professionals who respect themselves enough to excel.
Behind an industrial colossus and the results that make the society move there are, without exception, people. In addition to investments, which are absolutely necessary, very well-trained people are needed, and for Rompetrol (KMG International), the proof of professionalism is the fact that many experienced employees have become mentors for the new generations and also leaders.
Florian Pop, the General Manager of Rompetrol Rafinare, has been involved since 2001, when he was employed, in many investment projects, which made Rompetrol maintain a high standard, in a vital sector for the development of any country.
How long have you been employed by the company and what does your job entail?
Like most of the employees on the Petromidia platform, I got a job right after graduating from college. It happened on a beautiful day, Friday the 13th, in 2001. After obtaining my bachelor’s degree, I “knocked” on the gate of the refinery and put on the engineer’s uniform in the Refinery Section 1. Afterwards, I held different positions in the company such as head of section shift, head of sector shift, chief engineer, project manager, deputy P&E coordinator.
Before being appointed as General Manager of Rompetrol Rafinare, I was Manager of Development and Services, during which I coordinated project management departments, budgeting, cost estimation and managed the development program of the Petromidia and Vega refineries. Starting from 2023, I hold the position of General Manager and coordinate the entire activity on the Petromidia and Vega platforms.
What made you want to work here?
Crude oil processing is a niche segment, and usually by the time you decide to attend a college with this profile, you know what path you want to follow, including where you would like to work. I graduated from the Engineering, Oil and Gas Processing Technology and Petrochemistry Faculty at Ovidius Constanța University, with a bachelor’s degree. After I got hired, I wanted to go deeper in this field because I liked it, so I also obtained a master’s degree in Oil and Gas Processing Management at the same university.
Almost without realizing it, 23 years have passed, during which I held various positions in the Petromidia refinery, but also in production units outside the country. Refining is a sector where no day looks the same, extremely challenging for someone who is always looking to find solutions to the problems they encounter.
What does working in Petromidia mean for you and your career?
In short, it is the second home. This is the place where I was trained, where I performed, where I developed both professionally and as a person, and where I sometimes stayed longer than at home. I always liked challenges, that’s why I was very involved in the major investment package that started in 2008, shortly after KazMunayGaz – the Kazakh oil and gas company, took over Rompetrol. When refineries were closing down in Europe, amid the financial crisis, we were starting the largest investment program. Basically, we had a new refinery. Following those investments, we managed to increase the amount of crude oil processed from 3.5 to over 5 million tons/year, 5 new facilities were built and many were modernized. Personally, I worked closely on the construction of the Mild Hydrocracking Unit, which I later managed.
It was also then that the Vega refinery was modernized, which consolidated its position as the only bitumen producer in Romania, and the petrochemical sector was “resurrected”. The petrochemical division is still operational with Polypropylene (PP) and Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) facilities, the country’s only polymer producer. Then, not only was this business kept alive, but it was brought to the current standards of performance and efficiency, in a complex and increasingly competitive market. Thus, Rompetrol has become extremely important both for this sector and for the Romanian economy.
What impact did Petromidia have and has for the development of the area?
Before 1979, the land on which the Petromidia refinery now stands was a swamp, and Năvodari was a fishing village by the sea. The emergence of the Midia Petrochemical Plant (as it was called at the time) was of great importance. In all these years, Năvodari turned into a prosperous city, because, in addition to development, Petromidia brought stability to the area. The people who worked here moved to Năvodari, so the population increased from year to year, and the residents of Năvodari and Constanța had and still have a stable job in Petromidia.
In addition, besides the employees on the platform, we collaborate with different companies specialized in different work projects, which also generate income, jobs, all leading to evolution and development.
How important is the team to the activity in a refinery?
I’ve always said that without people you can’t do anything in general, even more so when it comes to working in a refinery. Here everything is interconnected. Starting from sourcing, unloading, processing, logistics, transport, marketing – everything is closely connected. There can be no weak link. We too can be proud of our strong teams, devoted people, good professionals. I am even more happy that all generations – seniors, colleagues of my age, but also young people – are all determined to continue learning. Currently on the Petromidia platform there are over 2,000 people, of which around 60 can be proud to say they have over 40 years of activity here.
How has working with people helped you evolve?
Working with people is, in essence, evolution. It depends on each one in which direction it evolves. It is certain that a good part of what I am today is due to those I have had to learn from on this platform. I listened, assimilated and put into practice. Besides, it’s in my nature to want more, better, the best. And the fact that I am surrounded by professionals pushes me in this direction.
Is there a lesson you have learned in these years of activity that you would pass on?
I respect work and strongly believe that hard work, done with seriousness, professionalism and respect for yourself and those you work with, will inevitably lead to good results and appreciation. I also learned that every problem has a solution, which we can find together.