The refining and petrochemical group ORLEN Unipetrol is taking gradual steps toward net zero to be achieved in 2050 at the latest. As part of its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and meet the emission targets set by EU legislation, the Group will start distributing BA95 petrol designated as E10 in the Czech market on 1 January 2024. This petrol type significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions because it contains up to ten per cent renewable fuel manufactured from mass or waste of organic origin.
“We want to be carbon neutral by 2050 and reduce CO2 emissions by 25% by 2030. Switching to producing and distributing petrol in E10 quality is a significant step on this path. As a result, the Czech market will move toward cleaner mobility. This move does not mean any substantial technology change for our refineries because we have supplied petrol in this quality to Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia for many years. In 2021, we transferred high-octane petrol sold as Verva 100 in the Orlen Benzina network to the E10 quality. We will start distributing the basic petrol fuel designated as Efecta 95 in the ORLEN Benzina network early in 2024,” says Tomasz Wiatrak, CEO of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group.
With this modification, ORLEN Unipetrol meets its strategic objectives that are in line with EU directives. The Red III directive approved by the EU Council on 12 October 2023 increases the goal related to greenhouse gas savings from the current 6% to 14.5% in 2030. By changing the petrol quality to E10, ORLEN Unipetrol also harmonises supplies in Central Europe. Slovakia and Hungary introduced E10 in 2019, and Austria in 2023. Czechia and Poland will switch to E10 in 2024.
E10 is a mixture comprising standard grade petrol and up to 10% of ethanol, which may also be represented as ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ETBE). This ethanol is acquired from renewable sources, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps protect the environment. E10 can be refuelled in nearly all petrol-powered vehicles manufactured after 2005 when Euro 4 came into force.
In connection with this measure, the filling stations offering 95-octane petrol will relabel its international designation from E5 to E10 at the start of 2024. More details about E10 and its compatibility are available at
www.e10info.eu.
The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the largest refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on crude oil processing and the production, distribution and sale of vehicle fuels and petrochemical products – particularly plastics and fertilisers. It belongs among the key players on the Czech and Central European markets in all these areas. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group encompasses refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo in Pardubice, Spolana in Neratovice, REMAQ in Otrokovice, and two research centres in Litvínov and Brno. ORLEN Unipetrol also includes the ORLEN Benzina network of petrol stations in the Czech Republic and the ORLEN network in Slovakia and Hungary. ORLEN Unipetrol is one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic in terms of turnover. It employs almost 6,000 people. ORLEN Unipetrol is also a socially responsible company, particularly in the areas of supporting sustainable development, education, local communities and the environment. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became part of the ORLEN Group, the largest oil refiner in Central Europe.