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OMV Petrom, Southeastern Europe’s largest integrated energy producer, has signed a contract with Expur S.A. for the supply of fully refined vegetable oil. This oil will serve as feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel (HVO) production at the Petrobrazi refinery. The final investment decision for this production facility was recently made by OMV Petrom.
The contract spans six years, with an option to extend for an additional two years. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in 2028. Expur S.A. will supply up to 0.7 million tons of vegetable oil, valued at over EUR 750 million, depending on the ordered quantity. The price is indexed to an international quotation.
Radu Caprau, a member of the OMV Petrom Executive Board responsible for Refining and Marketing, stated, “We are always looking for solutions for low-carbon emissions transportation, so as to remain our customers’ preferred choice in the future. Alongside electro-mobility, biofuels are our answer to this challenge. Through the contract with Expur, we are securing part of the raw material to produce diesel from renewable sources, thus progressing towards our ambition to become the first major producer of renewable fuels in the region.”
Expur S.A., a Romanian company part of the Avril Group, is one of Europe’s largest producers of vegetable oil and renewable diesel. CEO Nikolay Belchev commented, “In Expur, we frame our projects and investments on providing people with healthier food, protecting nature and supporting the circular economy. Last year we started up the engines of a cogeneration plant, a EUR 15.5 million investment where we use the husks from sunflower seed hulls to generate the electricity and steam needed to run our Slobozia factory. We are the largest employer in Slobozia and we continue to develop strategic partnerships such as the one with OMV Petrom to support our long-term vision of becoming a leader in providing people with healthy food and renewable energy through excellence and innovation for a clean future.”
At least 50% of the vegetable oil under this partnership will be sourced from Romania, ensuring sustainability throughout the supply chain, from production to market placement.
OMV Petrom plans to invest around EUR 1 billion in decarbonizing transportation in Romania, with approximately EUR 750 million allocated for constructing the SAF/HVO facility and two green hydrogen facilities within the Petrobrazi refinery.
Last year, OMV Petrom acquired a 50% stake in “Respira Verde,” a leader in used cooking oil collection in Romania, to ensure a steady supply of raw materials for biofuel production. “Respira Verde” collects up to 10,000 tons of used edible oil annually from the hospitality industry and retail sectors. |
