| By Mary Bailey
OMV PETROM SA (Bucharest, Romania) announced the start of construction for a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel (HVO) at the Petrobrazi Raffinery. This new system will position OMV Petrom as the first large manufacturer of sustainable fuels in Southeast Europe with an annual capacity of 250,000 tons.
Christina Verchere, CEO of OMV Petrom: “Investments in sustainable fuel production is part of our 2030 strategy and reflects OMV Petrom's commitment to the energy transfer and the reduction of carbon emissions. Sustainable fuels are of crucial importance for decarbonization transport, especially in sectors in which electrification is difficult to implement, such as: B. aviation. Between 2022 and 2030 we award 35% of our investment budget for projects that support the energy transfer in Romania and in the region. “
Radu Căpr year, member of the OMV Petrom Executive Board, which is responsible for refinement and marketing: “This investment strengthens the role of the Petrobrazi -Raffinery in the provision of the necessary fuels for mobility – today and in the future. Building on a long tradition of operational excellence, the refinery changes to take into account the production of sustainable fuels. With the beginning of this very complex project that uses new and innovative technologies, we are proud to guide the way with the first installation of this kind in our operating region. This performance is made possible by our highly qualified colleagues whose specialist knowledge and commitment to our success are of crucial importance. “
The new unit will enable OMV Petrom to integrate the production of SAF and HVO into the existing infrastructure for fuel production, storage and distribution and thus to meet the sustainable mobility needs of the region.
The project includes a total investment of 750 million euros, of which 560 million euros are assigned for the construction of the SAF/HVO unit and 190 million euros for two green hydrogen production systems.
SAF and HVO (also known as renewable diesel) are sustainable fuels that are produced by the processing of renewable raw materials, e.g. B. used vegetable oils and animal fats. Through advanced refineration processes using green hydrogen, these materials are transformed into properties that are similar to those of conventional kerosins and diesel. The use of these fuels enables a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to conventional fossil fuels (e.g. in SAF and HVO by at least 65%).
The flexibility of the new system enables the type of raw materials used (used oil, animal fat) and the mixture of finished products (SAF and HVO as well as organic naphtha and bio-LPG), depending on the market and the availability of starting material.
In addition to the development of sustainable fuel production, OMV Petrom is expanding its network of loading points for electric vehicles and is striving for over 5,000 units in Romania by 2030, compared to around 900.