Petron celebrates 80 years of fueling journeys

Put a tiger in your tank! You might recognize this slogan if you were a motorist in the ‘60s. Back then, Petron went by the name of Esso Philippines and Esso Extra was one of its well-known gasoline products.

Decades before putting “a tiger in your tank,” Petron has been fuelling your journeys on the road. It all started on September 7, 1933, when American oil firms Socony Vacuum Oil Company and Standard Oil Company merged to form Standard Vacuum Oil Company or Stanvac.

With the consumers’ changing demands, the company knew that a refinery would make them flexible and put the company at the forefront of fuel technology. And so they began construction of what would later be known as the Petron Bataan Refinery (PBR) at the dawn of the ‘60s.

From being a multinational, Petron became a government-controlled company in 1973, a partner of Saudi Aramco during the onset of deregulation in 1994, and now a fully privatized, Filipino-owned and operated company under the aegis of San Miguel Corporation.

Evolving for the Filipino

Today, Petron is the country’s largest oil refining and marketing company. From a refining capacity of only 25,000 barrels of crude oil in 1961, PBR is now an integrated crude oil refinery and petrochemicals complex with a rated capacity of 180,000 barrels per day. The company has 2,100 service stations nationwide and supplies nearly 40 percent of the country’s oil requirements.

Petron’s locally made environment-friendly products are testaments of Filipino talent and ingenuity.  Even before the Clean Air Act was passed in 1999, Petron’s products were already compliant with its specifications, phasing out leaded gasoline nationwide well before the government’s December 2000 deadline.

In 2010, the company introduced Petron Turbo Diesel, a  high-technology automotive diesel recommended for Common Rail Direct Injection (CRDI) engines, and Petron Blaze 100, a first-of-its-kind premium gasoline with a 100 octane number.

This year, they rolled out Petron Super Xtra Gasoline, which cleans away and prevents harmful engine deposits, and Petron Blaze 100 Euro 4, the first premium plus gasoline in the country that meets more stringent fuel specifications set by the European Union.

Companion on the Road

Petron’s quality customer service complements its first-class products. Aside from selling lubricants and specialty products, their repair and maintenance centers are outfitted with modern equipment and manned by well-trained technicians.

In 2004, the company introduced the Petron Fleet Card, the first microchip-based fleet card in the country. Four years later, they launched the prepaid Petron e-Fuel Card, and last year the Petron Value Card.

Geared for the Future

Over the years, Petron’s commitment to care for the environment and nation building has grown.

The company embarked on a massive network expansion program in 2009. Since then, Petron has opened over 1,000 new stations all over the country, and pioneered the micro-filling or bulilit station business, particularly in far-flung areas.

In the first half of 2014, the $2-billion Refinery Expansion Program (RMP-2) will be completed. This project will increase Petron’s output of valuable products such as gasoline, diesel, and petrochemicals, helping ensure the long-term supply security of the country. More importantly, RMP-2 will enable Petron to locally produce more technologically advanced fuels that meet with Euro 4 fuel standard.

On its 80^th year, Petron marks its first year since establishing Petron Malaysia, its first international foray. Petron Malaysia was founded in 2012 after Petron successfully acquired three Exxon Mobil downstream companies.

Petron promises to sustain its success by staying dedicated to and passionate about its vision to be the leading provider of total customer solutions in the energy sector and its derivative businesses. Consumers can expect the company to keep expanding its reach, evolving its products and services, and unfalteringly commit to nation building.