OMV Petrom will start the production of sustainable aviation fuel at Petrobrazi

OMV Petrom, the largest integrated energy company in Southeastern Europe, will produce sustainable aviation fuel at the Petrobrazi refinery by co-processing locally produced rapeseed oil. The first test run volumes are estimated for July, this year. The product will help reduce the CO2 emissions from commercial flights.

Radu Căprău, member of the Executive Board responsible for Refining & Marketing: „The production of SAF is part of our strategic objectives and we believe that it will become the main alternative for achieving the climate objectives of the aviation industry. Our goal is that, in 2030, to have an annual combined production of SAF and HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) of about 450 thousand tons.”

This test run was based on a successfully completed first rapeseed oil co-processing pilot at the Petrobrazi refinery, performed in July 2020. OMV Petrom was certified as an HVO producer based on the CERTROM audit, in accordance with the requirements of the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC-EU) voluntary scheme. This is a system recognized by the European Commission for the certification of sustainable materials that comply with the legal requirements of the Directive on the promotion of the use of Energy from Renewable Sources (RED). The use of HVO reduces the CO2 emissions by at least 65% compared to conventional diesel.

Petrobrazi will thus become the first ISCC certified refinery in the country to produce SAF and HVO by co-processing raw materials of a biological nature. The SAF volumes produced at the Petrobrazi refinery for commercial flights will help reduce the CO2 emissions by about 70% compared to the conventional fuel.

At the same time, the company aims to increase the production capacities in the future, in order to produce advanced sustainable fuels based on various waste feedstocks (i.e. used cooking oil).

To meet the Green Deal climate goals, the European Commission’s current plan includes the use of at least 63% SAF out of the aviation fuel demand by 2050 for EU air transport. Sustainable fuels will play a major role in decarbonizing this sector.

Romania is one of the largest producers of rapeseed in the European Union, ranking 4th in 2021. According to the National Institute of Statistics, most of the production is exported as raw material (seeds), only a part of the quantities obtained being recovered internally. By using locally obtained rapeseed oil in the production of sustainable fuels for aviation, we contribute to the expansion of the rapeseed value chain in Romania.