Axens has signed an agreement with PKN ORLEN for Vegan® Technology License and Process Book Supply for the production of renewable diesel and jet fuel, through hydrotreating of vegetable oils in its Płock Refinery in Poland.

Based on a flexibility to operate either on diesel mode or kerosene mode, the new unit would be capable of producing Hydro-treated Vegetable Oils (HVO) for true drop-in high quality biofuels for diesel or jet fuel. This project falls into a commitment to address today’s environmental regulations entering the low-carbon energy sector in Downstream while ensuring diversification of feedstock.

“Investing in new technologies is among PKN ORLEN’s strategic objectives. Renewable energy sources are gaining prominence in transport. The RED II Directive, which raises targets for the use of next-generation biofuels, will have a major impact on the fuel market in the future. By investing in environmentally-friendly solutions in advance, we will be well positioned to meet the ambitious EU targets”, states Daniel Obajtek, President of the PKN ORLEN Management Board.

Vegan® technology is able to hydro-treat a wide range of lipids and to produce low-density and high cetane renewable diesel as well as renewable sulfur-free jet fuel. Backed by fifty years of experience in middle distillates hydro-treatment and hydrocracking/hydro-isomerization, Vegan® technology is using catalysts manufactured and provided by Axens.

The scope of Axens’ work includes the supply of process books, catalysts & adsorbents, proprietary equipment, training and technical services.

About Axens

Axens is a group providing a complete range of solutions for the conversion of oil and biomass to cleaner fuels, the production and purification of major petrochemical intermediates as well as all of natural gas' treatment and conversion options. The offer includes technologies, equipment, furnaces, modular units, catalysts, adsorbents and related services. Axens is ideally positioned to cover the entire value chain, from feasibility study to unit start-up and follow-up throughout the entire unit cycle life. This unique position ensures the highest level of performance with a reduced environmental footprint. Axens global offer is based on highly trained human resources, modern production facilities and an extended global network for industrial, technical supports & commercial services. Axens is an IFP Group company.

About PKN ORLEN

PKN ORLEN is a leading-edge player on the fuels and energy markets, and the largest company in Central and Eastern Europe, listed in prestigious global rankings such as Fortune Global 500, Platts TOP250 and Thompson Reuters TOP100.

The ORLEN Group operates on 6 home markets: in Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Slovakia and Canada. It owns state-of-the-art integrated assets capable of processing more than 35 million tons of various crude types per annum, and markets its products through the CEE region’s largest chain of more than 2,800 service stations. The Group’s offering encompasses over 50 top-quality petrochemical and refining products, which are sold in more than 100 countries across 6 continents. PKN ORLEN is also a major player on the Polish energy market and Poland’s largest industrial electricity producer, with a generation capacity of 1.9 GWe. The Group’s upstream assets include 2P oil and gas reserves estimated at close to 211 mboe at the end of 2018. For several consecutive years ORLEN has been recognized as the most valuable Polish brand, worth PLN 4.7bn. PKN ORLEN is the only company in the region to be included for the sixth consecutive time in the list of The Most Ethical Companies by the US-based Ethisphere Institute.