ORLEN secures certification to expand biofuel production at Płock refinery

The approval allows the company to increase renewable fuel output from existing refinery units and count production toward European Union transport decarbonization targets.

ORLEN has obtained certification under the KZR INiG sustainability scheme for the co-hydrotreatment of renewable feedstocks at its Płock refinery, enabling the company to expand the production of biofuel components in line with European Union requirements.

The certification, recognized by the European Commission, verifies the origin of renewable raw materials and confirms that their processing meets EU sustainability standards. This allows ORLEN to include the resulting biofuel components in meeting the bloc’s renewable energy targets for the transport sector.

According to the company, the certification supports the further development of co-hydrotreatment technology, which processes bio-based feedstocks alongside conventional fossil feedstocks in existing refinery units. The approach enables a higher share of renewable content in fuels without requiring new production facilities.

ORLEN currently has the capacity to process around 100,000 tonnes of renewable feedstocks annually at the Płock refinery. Eligible materials include vegetable oils such as rapeseed oil and used cooking oil (UCO). The company is also seeking to extend certification coverage to additional crops, including camelina and mustard.

“The KZR INiG certification confirms ORLEN’s readiness to further expand the production of biofuel components from renewable feedstocks,” said Grzegorz Jóźwiak, Executive Director for Biofuels and Hydrogen at ORLEN.

In July 2026, ORLEN conducted tests aimed at increasing the share of vegetable oil used in the co-hydrotreatment process from 3.5% to 5%. Following the successful trials and planned upgrades, the refinery’s renewable feedstock processing capacity is expected to increase to approximately 150,000 tonnes per year.