“This is an
important step in the decarbonisation of the aviation sector. By adding SAF to
our commercial portfolio, we enable airlines and passengers to choose more
sustainable travel options while supporting the European Union’s climate
objectives. From mid-September, aircraft departing from Baltic airports will
use jet fuel blended with a renewable component,” says ORLEN Lietuva Director
of Inland Wholesale Tomas Abromavičius.
SAF is produced
from renewable or waste-based feedstocks such as used cooking oils and
industrial or agricultural residues. Blended with conventional jet fuel, it is
fully compatible with existing aircraft engines, allowing immediate use without
technical modifications. Across its lifecycle, SAF can cut CO₂ emissions by up to 94% compared with traditional fossil-based jet fuel.
Currently,
ORLEN imports SAF components, sourced partly from Rotterdam, the Netherlands,
and partly from Singapore. 2025 marks the first year when SAF is being rolled
out widely across Europe for commercial use, rather than limited pilot
programs. The fuel will be available to all airlines operating from Vilnius,
Riga, and Tallinn airports.
By
introducing SAF into its commercial offering, ORLEN is also complying with the
EU ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, which requires that sustainable aviation fuels
account for at least 2% of total jet fuel sales in 2025. This regulation
applies to EU airports that, in the preceding year, handled more than 800,000
passengers or 100,000 tonnes of cargo.
This
initiative supports compliance with the EU’s ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation,
which requires SAF to account for at least 2% of all jet fuel sales by 2025,
rising to 6% by 2030 and 70% by 2050.
ORLEN Group
already began SAF supplies in July 2025 at airports in Warsaw, Kraków, and
Katowice. In parallel, the Group is expanding production capacity. At its Płock
refinery in Poland, construction is underway on a hydrogenated vegetable oil
(HVO) unit.
The sale of
SAF is one of several initiatives undertaken by ORLEN to advance the
decarbonisation of aviation. As part of the HySPARK project (Hydrogen Solutions
for euroPean Airports & Regional Kinetics), ORLEN also plans to construct a
hydrogen refuelling station at Warsaw Chopin Airport in Poland. The station
will supply hydrogen to zero-emission ground support vehicles at the airport,
to be deployed as part of the HySPARK initiative.
ORLEN
Lietuva has been the largest taxpayer in the country for several years and is a
very important part of the Lithuanian economy. Since 2006, for the acquisition
and modernization of the refinery in Mažeikiai, ORLEN has invested almost 4.5
billion euros. In addition, ORLEN Lietuva operates the crucial Būtingė terminal
in Lithuania, the main port for feedstock supplies, and the Mockava railway
terminal, an important transshipment station for the smooth export of products.
ORLEN Group
is an integrated, diversified energy group, included in the prestigious Fortune
Global 500 and Platts TOP250 lists. It was the first group in the region to
announce its ambition to achieve climate neutrality targets in 2050. ORLEN
Group today operates in more than 10 markets.
ORLEN Lietuva inf.