SOCAR operates on a fuel retail market of with sales of EUR9.5 billion and over 2,000 competing gas stations. Petrom is a leader of the gas stations market, with 34%.
Early January, SOCAR opened its 32nd gas station in Romania, in central county of Sibiu, following an investment of EUR1 million. In 2014, the company opened a number of ten gas stations, while in 2013, it opened eight.
SOCAR aims to invest EUR10 million in 2015.
SOCAR Romania has gas stations in the counties of Botosani, Suceava, Neamt, Iasi, Bihor, Bistrita, Buzau, Bacau, Vrancea, Timis, Ilfov, Cluj, Valcea, Arad and Sibiu.
The company has created some 430 jobs in Romania and invested over EUR50 million since 2011, when it entered the Romanian fuel distribution market.