Hungarian oil and gas company MOL Group is expanding its renewable energy portfolio with an investment of HUF 2.7 billion (approximately €7.4 million) in a new biomethane production facility in Szarvas, southeastern Hungary, according to Hungary Today.
The plant is expected to produce more than 7 million cubic metres of biomethane annually, equivalent to the average yearly gas consumption of around 8,500 households. The purified gas will be injected directly into Hungary’s national natural gas grid.
György Bacsa, Managing Director of Strategy at MOL Hungary, said the facility was undergoing testing, with commercial operations expected to begin later in October.
The project involves upgrading raw biogas generated at an existing plant, which has been operational since 2011. A specialised purification process removes carbon dioxide from the biogas, producing biomethane that meets natural gas quality standards and can be supplied through the existing gas network.
The facility is MOL Group’s first biomethane plant and Hungary’s third such installation. The company acquired the biogas facility in 2023 as part of its expansion into sustainable energy businesses.
Bacsa described the investment as an important milestone in MOL’s sustainability strategy, highlighting the potential for collaboration between agriculture and energy production. He also pointed to opportunities to use biomethane as compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the transport sector.
The company is exploring further research and development opportunities and is seeking partners to expand biomethane applications.
Ádám Horváth, Downstream Director for New and Sustainable Business Areas at MOL, said the facility operates on a local circular-economy model, linking agricultural activities with renewable energy production.
