OMV Petrom (integrated energy producer) and its joint venture partner, Complexul Energetic Oltenia (a major, state-controlled energy company in Romania), have commenced large-scale delivery of photovoltaic panels for four solar parks under construction in southern Romania, marking a significant operational milestone in what the companies describe as one of the most extensive renewable energy programs in the country.

First Shipments Arrive at Port of Constanța

The first batches of panels have arrived in Romania and are being unloaded at the Port of Constanța. From there, the equipment will be loaded onto specialized trucks and transported in stages to the three construction locations in the localities of Ișalnița, Tismana, and Rovinari in the Oltenia region.

The logistics operation will require approximately 1,500 truck deliveries in total, coordinated so that installation works can begin immediately as panels reach each site. Construction teams will carry out activities in parallel across all three locations in line with the established execution schedule.

The first consignment represents part of a total of approximately 800,000 panels required across the four parks, which together carry a combined installed capacity of approximately 550 MW. The companies note that the total panel count is sufficient to cover an area comparable to Bucharest's Herăstrău Park, or more than 1,500 football fields.

Panel Specifications and Technical Design

The photovoltaic panels are manufactured by what the companies describe as a renowned global manufacturer and belong to the N-type Half-cell Bifacial Module generation.

According to OMV Petrom, the panels are designed to operate optimally under varying temperature and solar radiation conditions, with the aim of ensuring stable and efficient long-term energy production.

Once the four parks become operational, which is expected in 2027, the combined output is projected to cover the equivalent annual electricity consumption of approximately 500,000 households.

That estimate is based on the average capacity factor for solar energy in Romania and the average household electricity consumption according to data from the Romanian energy regulator ANRE.

Investment Scale and Funding Structure

The total investment value for the four parks exceeds USD 456 million. Approximately 70 percent of that figure is being financed through the Modernisation Fund, a European Union instrument supporting the decarbonization of energy systems in lower-income member states. The first tranche of Modernisation Fund financing, worth around USD 79.8 million, was received in December 2025.

OMV Petrom and CE Oltenia are equal partners in the venture, each holding a 50 percent stake. Franck Neel, OMV Petrom Executive Board Member responsible for Gas and Power, described the panel deliveries as confirmation of the project's momentum.

"The arrival of the panels in Romania shows real progress on site and confirms the strong pace of the project. It is an important step forward and an example of a public–private partnership that works," he said.

Constantin-Cosmin Trufelea, President of the Oltenia Energy Complex Directorate, said the milestone represented an important stage in the implementation of investments set out in the company's restructuring and decarbonization plan.

"These projects contribute to diversifying the production mix and strengthening the long-term development perspective of the Oltenia Energy Complex," he stated.

Workforce Retraining Accompanies Construction Push

Alongside the physical construction program, OMV Petrom is supporting a workforce retraining initiative called RenewAcad, carried out in partnership with CE Oltenia. The program offers employees of the Oltenia Energy Complex professional retraining for roles specific to renewable energy production, with workers given the opportunity to participate directly in the construction and subsequent operation of the photovoltaic parks.

To date, approximately 255 employees of CE Oltenia have completed a specialization course titled "Installer for solar photovoltaic systems," through which they have acquired skills in the assembly, commissioning, and maintenance of photovoltaic systems. The companies state that the RenewAcad initiative forms part of a broader effort through which over 10,000 professionals have been trained to support Romania's energy transition.

The retraining program is particularly significant given CE Oltenia's background as a coal-based power producer. The transition of its workforce toward renewable energy operations represents a direct response to the company's stated restructuring and decarbonization plan.

Context Within Romania's Energy Landscape

OMV Petrom describes itself as the largest integrated energy producer in Southeastern Europe, with annual Group hydrocarbon production of approximately 38 million barrels of oil equivalent recorded in 2025.

The company operates a refining capacity of 4.5 million tons annually and runs an 860 MW high-efficiency gas-fired power plant. It maintains a retail presence through approximately 780 filling stations across Romania and neighboring countries under the OMV and Petrom brands.

The company is listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange with a 28.1 percent free float. As of the end of 2025, Romanian shareholders held around 45 percent of shares, including a 20.7 percent stake held by the Romanian state.

OMV Aktiengesellschaft held a 51.2 percent stake. OMV Petrom has paid more than USD 54.72 billion in taxes and dividends to the Romanian state budget between 2005 and 2025 and invested over USD 23.94billion during the same period.

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