Romanian oil refiner Rompetrol Rafinare through its petrochemical division - the only polymer producer in Romania - has successfully developed a new product in the last three months, a special type of polypropylene dedicated to protective medical masks.

It is used for producing the middle layer of the mask, the most important layer for filtering and protecting against pathogens.

"This is a premiere for Romania and Central and Eastern Europe, a major success of the team of specialists from the Petromidia refinery who managed to achieve a new vital assortment in almost three months to support the fight against COVID-19. Recently, with the support of domestic and international partners, we completed the testing and verification of the new material in accordance with all safety and quality standards and it will enter production in the next period," said Saduokhas Meraliyev, operational director of KMG International Group - the majority shareholder of Rompetrol Rafinare.

"Romania thus becomes an important source of raw materials in Europe and the region for the production of sanitary materials. Together with the local partners we can produce sanitary materials in Romania and contribute to ensuring the necessary internal needs, and also establish a strategic reserve of medical equipment at national and European levels," he added.

Rompetrol Rafinare currently produces and provides all the necessary types of products for obtaining type FPP1 and FPP2 sanitary and surgical masks and medical accessories.

Rompetrol Rafinare is the only producer of polymers in Romania and provides for over half of the domestic consumption of petrochemical products. The petrochemical division has an annual capacity of 220,000 tons of polymers through the three production units - polypropylene, low-density and high-density polyethylene units.

The raw material for the polypropylene plant is provided entirely by the Petromidia refinery, while the necessary ethylene for the polyethylene unit is ensured by imports.

editor@romania-insider.com

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