OMV Petrom begins construction of sustainable fuel unit at Petrobrazi

The new Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Renewable Diesel (HVO) unit will have an annual production capacity of 250,000 tons of sustainable fuels starting in 2028.

With a €750 million investment, OMV Petrom integrates sustainable fuel production at Petrobrazi along with two green hydrogen units.

OMV Petrom becomes the first major producer of sustainable fuels in Southeastern Europe, contributing to the energy transition.

OMV Petrom, the largest integrated energy producer in Southeastern Europe, has announced the start of construction on a production unit for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Renewable Diesel (HVO) at the Petrobrazi refinery. This new unit will position OMV Petrom as the first major producer of sustainable fuels in Southeastern Europe, with a capacity of 250,000 tons per year.

“Investing in sustainable fuel production is part of our 2030 strategy and reflects OMV Petrom’s commitment to the energy transition and carbon emission reduction. Sustainable fuels are essential for decarbonizing transportation, especially in sectors where electrification is difficult to implement, such as aviation. Between 2022 and 2030, we will allocate 35% of our investment budget to projects that support the energy transition in Romania and the region,” said Christina Verchere, CEO of OMV Petrom.

“This investment strengthens Petrobrazi Refinery’s role in ensuring the fuels needed for mobility—both today and in the future. The refinery is evolving to accommodate the production of sustainable fuels such as SAF and HVO while maintaining its long-standing tradition of operational excellence. We are proud to lead the way with the first facility of this kind in our region, launching a highly complex project that utilizes new and innovative technologies. This achievement is made possible by our highly skilled colleagues, whose expertise and dedication are essential to our success,” said Radu Căprău, OMV Petrom’s Executive Board Member for Refining and Marketing.

The new unit will enable OMV Petrom to integrate SAF and HVO production with the existing fuel production, storage, and distribution infrastructure, addressing the region’s sustainable mobility needs.

The project involves a total investment of €750 million, including €560 million for the construction of the SAF-HVO unit and €190 million for two green hydrogen production facilities.

How SAF and HVO Are Produced and Their Impact on Emissions

SAF and HVO are sustainable fuels produced by processing renewable raw materials such as used cooking oils and animal fats. Through advanced refining processes using green hydrogen, these materials are transformed to have characteristics similar to conventional kerosene and diesel. The use of these fuels significantly reduces CO₂ emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels (by at least 65% for SAF and HVO).

The flexibility of the new facility allows for adjustments in the type of raw materials used (waste oil, animal fats) and the mix of final products (SAF, HVO, as well as bio-naphtha and bio-LPG) based on market demand and raw material availability.

Complementary Investments in Low-Emission Transportation

Alongside the development of sustainable fuel production, OMV Petrom is expanding its electric vehicle charging network, aiming for over 5,000 charging points in Romania by 2030, up from approximately 900 currently available.

About OMV Petrom

OMV Petrom is the largest integrated energy producer in Southeastern Europe, with a group-level annual crude oil and gas production of approximately 40 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) in 2024. The Group has a refining capacity of 4.5 million tons per year and operates a high-efficiency 860 MW natural gas power plant. In the retail distribution of petroleum products, the Group is present in Romania and neighboring countries through approximately 780 gas stations under the OMV and Petrom brands.

As of the end of 2024, Romanian shareholders own over 43% of OMV Petrom’s shares (with the Romanian state, through the Ministry of Energy, holding 20.7%, and Romanian pension funds holding 22.5%, in addition to nearly 500,000 individual investors and other Romanian entities). OMV Aktiengesellschaft, one of Austria’s largest publicly traded industrial companies, owns 51.2% of OMV Petrom’s shares, while the remaining 5.6% are held by other foreign investors. Of the total OMV Petrom shares, 28.1% are freely traded on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.

OMV Petrom is one of the largest contributors to the state budget, having paid over €45 billion in taxes, duties, and dividends between 2005 and 2024. Over the same period, the company has invested approximately €20 billion.

Since 2007, OMV Petrom has integrated corporate responsibility principles into its business strategy. Between 2007 and 2024, the company allocated approximately €190 million for community development in Romania, focusing on environmental protection, education, healthcare, and local development.

On July 29, 2020, OMV Petrom announced its support for the recommendations issued by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), which outlines climate change-related risks and opportunities. OMV Petrom reports annually on its progress in implementing these recommendations.

19.02.2025 / Editor, Andreea Dragan

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