At MasterChemOil, we are committed to improving our terminals and we are continuously working on enhancing efficiencies that advance our ability to offer the best solutions to short- and medium-term imbalances related to the supply, storage, and distribution of fuel. We recognize that due to geopolitical situation in our region, coupled with the aging infrastructure, and the difficulty of transporting fuel to certain areas, recent supply disruptions have affected many countries, businesses and households.

As the CEO of MasterChemOil, I wanted to take the opportunity to share some details about the investments we are currently making to ensure that our country – Romania, as well as the broader European region, has reliable access to the resources they need now and in the future.

In recent years the pandemic has brought about a huge demand-supply gap in the oil and gas industry, while the war in Ukraine has created a shock to the previously established systems by reshaping not only European but also global energy markets, leading to price volatility, supply shortages and economic uncertainty. Due to these geopolitical changes, there is a massive shift of flows and each market participant must adapt at a very fast pace to this new reality. In our region the diesel shortage was already present in the last 15-20 years. And right now we are facing a new shortage in Ukraine, which is putting a lot of pressure on supply chains and existing installation. As an industry we need to take urgent action and look for innovative solutions to ensure that our region is not left in the lurch.

We believe that the answer to these challenges is investment into high-throughput, which refers to the ability of a facility or system to process large volumes of oil and gas in a short amount of time. This is achieved through the use of advanced technology and automation, which enable us to streamline our operations and reduce downtime. Investing in high-throughput technologies can bring a host of benefits to the wider European region, including increased and more sustainable production, improved efficiency and better safety.

In this manner we are continuously investing in our existing terminal in order to make the operation faster, to increase the efficiency of the movement of the product in and out, both on rail and also by trucks. We decreased significantly the manoeuvring time, the discharge time and the loading time. We implemented a lot of automation and this concept has proven as viable.

What we need to do now is to replicate the same concept in the Romanian port of Constanța at the jetty of deep water in order to accommodate large ships, and to create a terminal which is based on high throughput, not high volume. Our project in Constanta envisages the building of such terminal with a smaller storage capacity and with focus on the evacuation of the product. If we create a faster way out for the product, we can increase the volume on the throughput. We are looking at 15,000 tonnes evacuation per day, which is basically double than the oil terminal is capable to do right now. Finally, we do not plan to build a 1 million cubic meter storage space – instead, we want to build a 200,000 cubic meter storage space, but the throughput should be that of 5 million tonnes. This approach will be particularly efficient in terms of costs but also help us to reduce our environmental impact using advanced technology and automation to optimize our operations, reduce emissions, and minimize waste.

As a leader of a company in the oil and gas industry, I cannot stress enough the importance of investing in high-throughput technologies to handle fuel shortage in the European region. By doing so, we can reduce our reliance on imports and ensure that we are better prepared to handle any future supply chain disruptions. While the impact of the current energy crisis will be felt for the years to come, it is vital to find effective solutions now which will help the region meet its energy needs. With our strong team and a consistent track record we hope to make our plan a success in the shortest possible time.

Dan Berendel

CEO of MasterChemOil