Crude oil of Azerbaijani origin was imported by sea to the port of Constanta in Romania on July 16–18 and pumped into transmission pipelines before the quality problem was discovered. Crude oil contaminated with organic chlorides causes corrosion in the pipeline system and production equipment, making it impossible to use. To solve the problem, low-quality oil must be removed from the pipes and storage facilities.
In order to continue the operations of the refinery, which is part of the OMV Group and one of the largest refineries in Romania, the ministry allowed the use of crude oil from the strategic stockpile of the state as raw material. As normal refining has been temporarily disrupted, the Ministry of Energy also released 30,000 tonnes of diesel fuel stored as a final product from the national stockpile to the domestic market to prevent supply disruptions.
The strategic stock of 110,000 tonnes of crude oil and diesel fuel released corresponds to 18 days of Romanian domestic consumption. Romania has announced that it will restore the 90-day strategic fuel stocks required for European Union members no later than two months after the end of the current state of emergency.
According to Priit Enok, Member of the Board of the Estonian Stockpiling Agency, the release of strategic fuel stocks in Romania is a good example of the wide variety of situations requiring intervention.
‘Germany and France have released their stocks in recent years due to the extremely low water levels of the Rhine River. The Czech government decided to release strategic stocks in March this year due to the disruption of supply from the Druzhba pipeline. ‘The chemical contamination of crude oil, which is a production input, is rather an exceptional case, but it clearly confirms that strategic stockpiles give countries the confidence to smoothly overcome unexpected crises,’ said Enok.
The strategic liquid fuel stocks of Estonia cover 90 days of regular consumption and is kept 100% in finished products such as petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel. The bulk, or 88%, of the national fuel stocks are stored in Estonia.
In addition to the strategic stocks owned by the state, there is a further 59 days’ supply of petrol and 31 days’ supply of diesel in Estonia as commercial stocks of fuel companies as at the end of July.
