Rompetrol Downstream, the retail division of the petroleum group Rompetrol, plans to triple the number of petrol stations in Romania by the end of 2009, which could see its business rise proportionately, to approximately 3 billion euros.

"Currently, we have approximately 350 stations, with over 100 being the company's own petrol stations, while the others are franchised stations, as well as mobile stations," says Dan Rosu, CEO of Rompetrol Downstream.

For the second half of the year, Rompetrol intends to build 12 new petrol stations and to acquire a further four stations. There are also 26 stations operated under franchise and 120 mobile stations (Rompetrol Expres) planned. The 350 stations held by Rompetrol on the Romanian market provide the group with a 15-17% market share, according to company representatives.

"We estimate that this tripling in the number of stations will see our turnover rise more or less proportionately, as well," added Rosu. For this year, Rompetrol Downstream estimates a 1.9 billion-dollar (1.4 billion-euro) turnover, up 46% against the level seen last year. The increase is mainly due to the rise in the number of petrol stations. Under the circumstances, the turnover of Rompetrol Downstream could reach approximately 3 billion euros, considering an increase proportionate to the number of petrol stations.

Another development direction for Rompetrol Downstream, apart from territorial expansion, is the development of petrol stations as service centres.

"We are using an in-store coverage index, which measures the degree to which all operating expenditures of a petrol station can be covered by means of non-oil revenues. Ideally, the value of this index should be 1. The value we are currently seeing is 0.52, and we want it to reach 0.75 over the course of next year.

This rise will be brought about by the introducti