Poland-based ORLEN has begun operations at its new bioenergy facility in Plock, a $220 million project aimed at increasing renewable diesel production, strengthening fuel security and supporting the country’s growing biofuels sector through the use of feedstocks such as rapeseed oil and used cooking oil.
The company announced on May 25 that the new biorefinery, built with an investment of $220 million, has an annual production capacity of 300,000 metric tonnes. The facility is capable of processing different types of feedstocks, including rapeseed oil and used cooking oil, Biodiesel Magazine reported.
Located in central Poland, around 70 miles northwest of Warsaw, the plant is expected to significantly increase ORLEN’s biofuel output. Once the facility reaches full operations, the company’s total biofuel production capacity will rise to nearly 700,000 metric tonnes per year. ORLEN plans to further expand this capacity to 1.1 million metric tonnes annually by 2030.
The project is also expected to support Poland’s upcoming biofuel blending target of 10% for 2026 and reduce dependence on imported biofuel components under the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive III framework.
ORLEN said the new facility is part of its broader strategy to increase the use of biobased feedstocks in existing refining operations. The company has also upgraded two hydrodesulfurization units in Plock to allow coprocessing of renewable feedstocks, adding more than 100,000 metric tonnes to annual production capacity.
ORLEN CEO and President Ireneusz Fąfara said the renewable diesel plant would strengthen Poland’s fuel security while improving the company’s position in the biofuels market.
He said the investment would help increase domestic production of advanced biofuels, improve cost efficiency and reduce exposure to fluctuations in global markets. According to the company, the project is also expected to help develop a domestic supply chain covering both feedstocks and finished fuels while supporting the Polish economy.
