On World Biodiesel Day, MOL Group announced a major step in its shift toward cleaner energy. For the first time, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) has been produced at INA’s Rijeka Refinery in Croatia, along with a significant quantity of renewable diesel known as HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil). The pilot project processed a mix of fossil feedstocks and biocomponents, marking the second successful SAF and HVO test within MOL Group after an earlier trial at the Slovnaft Refinery in Bratislava, Slovakia, reports Biodiesel Magazine.
The Rijeka pilot was carried out with Chevron Lummus Global (CLG), the company that licensed the refinery’s hydrocracking technology. It tested the co-processing of 5% palm oil mill effluent (POME) – a by-product of palm oil production – with fossil materials. In total, 1,000 metric tons of biogenic feedstock were processed, with the entire operation certified by Bureau Veritas d.o.o. under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification standard for biofuels.
The project took eight months to prepare, given the technical challenges of working with a new type of feedstock. During the test run, more than 400 samples were taken for analysis at INA’s Central Testing Laboratory, while C14 testing to confirm biogenic content was carried out by the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb and Isotoptech Zrt. in Debrecen.
Earlier this year, the Bratislava Refinery also produced diesel with HVO made from cashew nut shell oil, and SAF from partially refined cooking oil. These tests confirmed that the refinery’s regular aviation fuel production unit can also make sustainable alternatives.
MOL Group has long used co-processing at its Danube Refinery in Százhalombatta, Hungary, mixing plant residues with fossil materials during production to lower emissions.
Renewable fuels are a key part of MOL Group’s SHAPE TOMORROW strategy. The company produces HVO from waste materials and is among the first in Europe to make aviation biofuels. “We already produce diesel and sustainable aviation fuel from renewable sources and are ready to expand production,” said Csaba Zsótér, Senior Vice President for Fuels. “This is part of our goal to offer a wider range of fuels and lead the region’s energy transition through continued investment and innovation.”
MOL Group began commercial testing of SAF in 2022 with Budapest Airport, Wizz Air, and Airport Fuel Supply Llc. It now sells SAF in Hungary, Slovakia, and Croatia, amounting to about 14 kilotons of biocomponents annually.
SAF, made only from renewable or waste-based feedstocks, must meet the same technical and environmental standards as conventional jet fuel. With only a small number of refineries worldwide able to produce it and global supply far below demand, MOL Group’s developments are seen as crucial for both climate action and energy security.
