OMV Petrom invests €750 million in Petrobrazi to become the first major producer of sustainable fuels in Southeast Europe

OMV Petrom, the largest integrated energy producer in Southeast Europe, has announced an investment in its Petrobrazi refinery worth approximately EUR 750 million. This strategic move aims to transform the refinery into the first major producer of sustainable fuels in the region. The company has finalized the decision to build a SAF/HVO installation along with two installations for the production of green hydrogen for the production of biofuels.

Christina Verchere, CEO of OMV Petrom, said: “Our transformation is moving forward. In addition to our new renewable energy projects, today we took a decisive step towards decarbonizing transport in Romania. By 2030, we will commit €11 billion to transform the business towards a low-carbon future, both in Romania and in the region.”

Radu Căprău, member of the OMV Petrom management board responsible for refining and marketing, added: “With electromobility, biofuels are the answer to low-emission transport and we expect demand for these products to gradually increase. Thanks to the investments announced today, we will be able to replace imports with biofuels produced here in Romania. For our customers, this means product reliability and lower carbon dioxide emissions. Our goal is to continue to be our customers’ first choice, offering them the products they need.”

SAF/HVO production plant

The value of the investment in the SAF/HVO installation is EUR 560 million. The plant will have a production capacity of 250 kt/year of SAF and HVO, as well as by-products such as bionaphtha and bio-LPG, used in the chemical industry. High flexibility of the installation allows you to adjust the product range based on market demand and available raw materials. The power plant will consume approximately 11,000 tonnes annually. tons of hydrogen, most of which will be supplied by new green hydrogen production installations.

Green hydrogen for sustainable fuels

The investment in two green hydrogen units is estimated at EUR 190 million, of which as much as EUR 50 million comes from European funds under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPRR). OMV Petrom and the Ministry of Energy signed financing agreements earlier this year.

Both units will have a total capacity of 55 MW and will produce approximately 8,000. tons of green hydrogen per year. Incorporating green hydrogen into sustainable fuels such as sustainable jet fuel and renewable diesel will result in at least a 70% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to conventional fuels.

Petrobrazi is the first refinery in Romania certified to produce SAF and HVO in the process of co-processing biological raw materials.

To ensure a reliable source of raw materials for the production of biofuels, OMV Petrom acquired 50% of shares in “Respiră Verde”, a leader in the collection of used cooking oil in Romania. “Respiră Verde” collects up to 10,000. tons of used cooking oil per year from sectors such as the hospitality industry and retail.

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