Put a tiger in your tank! If you were a motorist in the 60s, you might recognize this slogan. Back then, Petron was known as Esso Philippines and Esso Extra was one of its well-known gasoline products.
But with the consumers’ changing demands through the years, Petron knew that a refinery would make them flexible and put the company at the forefront of fuel technology. That’s when the construction of what would later be known as the Petron Bataan Refinery (PBR) began.
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 privatised, 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. It has 2,100 service stations nationwide and supplies nearly 40% 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 and Petron Blaze 100. 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
Aside from selling lubricants and specialty products, Petron’s repair and maintenance centres 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
In 2009, 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, Petron’s $2-billion Refinery Expansion Program (RMP-2) will be completed. This project will increase the company’s output of valuable products such as gasoline, diesel, and petrochemicals, helping ensure the long-term supply security of the country. RMP-2 will also enable Petron to locally produce more technologically-advanced fuels that meet with the Euro 4 fuel standard.
Now, on its 80th 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.