Orlen Południe, belonging to the PKN Orlen group, launched an installation for the production of propylene glycol at a cost of approximately PLN 400 million in a biorefinery in Trzebinia (Małopolska) on Thursday. According to the company’s management, it is the first installation of this type in Poland and the largest in Europe.
- Daniel Obajtek solemnly announced the commissioning of the glycol production plant
- It is to satisfy 75 percent. domestic demand for this product
- Glycol can be used, among others medicine, cosmetics, food industry and photovoltaics
- Part of Orlen’s investments is also a hydrogen hub
- You can find more such information on the Onet homepage
As emphasized by the president of PKN Orlen, Daniel Obajtek, during the opening ceremony of the project, installation with a production capacity of 30,000 tons per year will cover 75 percent. domestic demand for glycol. This product – he pointed out – is clean and safe for the environment and can be used in many industries, including medicine, cosmetics, food industry, aviation, agriculture, photovoltaics.
According to him, the decision to build an installation for the production of ecological propylene glycol in Trzebinia results from the diagnosis of market trends and the need to invest in new technologies and modern market sectors.
– The installation was made in Orlen Południe, because it closes the entire chain of other products that we produce here (…) – said the president of the concern and emphasized that the new installation not only secures the production of glycol, but also provides hydrogen, which will be used in it in 75%.
As explained by Obajtek, the remaining 25 percent. the hydrogen produced will be purified and used in urban transport.
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According to him, in recent years, about PLN 800 million has been invested in the Trzebinia and Jedlicze refineries, which are part of Orlen Południe, which “allowed to stabilize and strengthen this company, which in 2014-2015 was prepared to shut down”. The plans include an investment for PLN 120 million in the processing of used oils into second-generation esters.
– The trick is not to extinguish assets, but to strengthen them (…). Thanks to this, Orlen Południe will survive for the next several dozen years – emphasized Obajtek.
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As he said, the energy transformation in Poland can only be carried out by a strong company with a strong balance sheet. He stated that PKN Orlen is becoming such a company.
He recalled that the company invests, inter alia, into energy, into petrochemicals, “strongly develops subsidiaries”. – But also we invest heavily in assets outside our country he pointed. He added that the company is present in over 100 countries.
See also: Orlen expansion. Sasin: The first half of 2022 will be decisive
He drew attention to Orlen Oil, which was also prepared for privatization. – Today this company is combined with production with other companies, even in the Czech Republic – he said.
– We still have two large acquisitions ahead of us, which are very advanced he pointed. He added that, contrary to various opinions, “we will certainly carry out these acquisitions, these mergers in order to create a stable concern in this part of Europe, with a permanent EDIDT, so that it could invest in our entire economy, but also stabilize fuel quets in the region”.
During the ceremony, Secretary of State in the Ministry of State Assets, Maciej Małecki, emphasized that one of the PiS government’s priorities is to build a strong Polish economy, because “only economically strong countries are able to compete economically in the international arena.”
– Poland is facing a great challenge in the energy transformation, we are aware of it, but this transformation must be friendly to the Polish economy, it must take into account the condition of Polish companies and jobs. Because investments carried out by PKN Orlen are the driving force of the entire Polish economy – he stressed.
– The success of Orlen is the success of the entire Polish economy, because only a strong multi-energy concern will be able to compete with companies that operate in Poland, Europe and even wider markets – added Małecki.
Ireneusz Zyska, Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment, reminded that the opening of an installation for the production of green glycol and the associated hydrogen is another step towards developing the Polish hydrogen strategy – “the most modern segment and building a new sector of the economy”.
He announced that in the vicinity of on the border of the Silesian and Lesser Poland agglomerations, one of the largest so-called hydrogen valleys. – The Silesian-Malopolska hydrogen basin refers to the history, potential and tradition of these two regions, I am convinced that the management board of Orlen Południe will be the leader of this hydrogen valley – he stressed.
The installation for the production of ecological propylene glycol, launched on Thursday at the Trzebinia plant, is – according to the company’s representatives – the first in Poland and the largest installation of this type in Europe.
The aim of the investment – indicated by the company’s management – is to strengthen the company’s position on the biocomponent market and to meet the EU challenges obliging Poland to use renewable fuels and biocomponents in transport.
The investment worth approximately PLN 400 million will contribute to the increase in the company’s operating EBITDA by over PLN 50 million annually. Several dozen jobs were created while operating the glycol installation.
The construction of the green glycol production plant started in autumn 2019 and was completed according to schedule. Its contractor is a consortium of two Polish companies: Technik Polska and Biproraf.
An integral part of the glycol installation is the first hydrogen hub in Poland, in which the annual production of hydrogen will amount to 16 Nm3, of which 75 percent. will be dedicated to the production of glycol, and the remaining 25 percent. after cleaning, as a hydrogen fuel. The hub’s production capacity will be 350 tons of pure hydrogen per year for the automotive industry.
The fuel from Trzebinia will ultimately supply the public transport fleet in Krakow and the Silesian agglomeration. The concern has signed letters of intent in this matter on cooperation with Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne in Krakow and Krakow Municipal Holding as well as with the Metropolis GZM. In the future, ORLEN Południe will also have a mobile hydrogen refueling station.
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