Oversized transport for Brazi power plant, marking an important stage of the construction

• The second gas turbine arrived in Brazi
• Approximately EUR 350,000 for the transport of one turbine
• Petrom invests around EUR 500 mn for the construction of the Brazi power plant

Petrom, the largest oil and gas producer in Southeastern Europe, announces the arrival of the second gas turbine in Brazi. The turbine weighs over 300 tons, with a height of over 5 meters, length of over 10 meters and width of almost 5 meters. For the construction of Brazi gas fired power plant, Petrom acquired two gas turbines and one steam turbine from General Electric, as part of the turn key contract, the value of the three turbines representing 17% of the total investments for the power plant.

Gerald Kappes, member of Petrom Executive Board, responsible for Gas, Power and Chemicals: “The plant we are building in Brazi represents the largest private greenfield project for electricity generation in Romania, with around EUR 500 million investments and uses the best technical solutions in the field, in observance with European environmental standards. The works progress within estimated time and budget, so that the commissioning of the plant is expected to take place in the second part of 2011. It is a major project, which contributes to achieving the strategic objective of becoming an important producer on the Romanian electricity market, with a market share of approximately 10%; in 2012, the Brazi power plant will ensure around 8-9% of the electricity produced in Romania”.

The plant’s configuration is unique in Romania and ensures flexibility in its operation as well as increased efficiency. With two gas turbines, two heat recovery boilers and a steam turbine, the power plant will have a capacity of 860 MW and an increased efficiency of approximately 57% comparing with the average of 30% of units in Romania that develop similar capacities. Approximately 20% of the power plant capacity will be used to supply the demand of Petrom’s own consumption and the rest will be sold on the Romanian power market.

For the transportation of the turbines at Brazi construction site oversized convoys were necessary. The convoy that transported the second gas turbine had a length of 110 meters, width and height of around 6 meters. For the transport of this turbine alone, the costs amounted to around EUR 350,000.

On the Romanian territory, the transport took place on water and on land, on the route Constanţa – Agigea – Cernavodă – Silistra – Olteniţa – Centură Bucureşti – Albeşti Paleologu – Centura Vest Ploieşti – Brazi power plant site.

The last turbine, which is the steam turbine, will arrive in Brazi at te end of June.

Petrom began the construction of the Brazi power plant in June 2009. A consortium consisting of General Electric (USA) and Metka (Greece) will build and deliver the turn-key power plant by September 2011.

The Brazi power plant project includes the construction of a 30 km pipeline, which will ensure the transport of gas to the power plant and a 3 km high voltage connection for the link with the national high voltage system.

OMV Petrom SA
Petrom is the largest Romanian oil and gas group, with activities in the business segments of Exploration and Production, Refining and Marketing as well as Gas and Power. Petrom exploits estimated proved oil and gas reserves of 823 mn boe in Romania (854 mn boe at group level), has an annual refining capacity of 8 mn t and holds around 550 filling stations in Romania. The company also has an international network of 268 filling stations located in Moldova, Bulgaria and Serbia. In 2009 the turnover of Petrom was EUR 3,029 mn, EBITDA was EUR 696 mn. OMV Aktiengesellschaft, the leading energy group in Central and South-eastern Europe holds a 51.01% share in Petrom. OMV is active in 12 Central European countries in its Refining and Marketing business segment and in 17 countries on four continents in Exploration and Production. Ministry of Economy holds 20.64% of Petrom shares, Property Fund SA holds 20.11%, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development 2.03% and 6.21% is free float on Bucharest Stock Exchange.