MOL Group starts HVO co-processing at its Danube Refinery

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Type of post: NEWS.

MOL Group has recently started biofuel production at its Danube Refinery (Százhalombatta, near Budapest, Hungary). Biobased feedstocks (vegetable oils, used cooking oils and animal fats) are co-processed with fossil components during fuel production to create a more sustainable diesel.

During the last years, MOL Group has been purchasing more than 500.000 tons of biofuels (bioethanol and biodiesel) for blending. Following several years of research and development, it has stepped up the value chain and has become a biofuel producer, through the realization of an investment in the Danube Refinery. MOL started co-processing as an R&D project in 2012 based on the research results of Pannon University. Types and quality requirements of processable raw materials were determined and the investment was launched in 2018. The trial operation of the new process started in March 2020 and has been working regularly since May.

Biobased feedstocks are processed together with the fossil material in the production of diesel fuel. As a result, the produced gasoil is partly renewable, without any quality changes compared to diesel produced entirely from crude-oil. This project means that up to 200,000 tons of annual CO2 emissions will be cut.

MOL aims to gradually increase the share of wastes in the process, in line with its updated strategy “SHAPE TOMORROW”. The company is planning to produce more than 100.000 tons of biofuel by 2030 and will spend 1,000 M$ in the next five years on new, low-carbon and sustainable businesses (waste integration and utilization; recycling, carbon capture, utilization and storage; advanced biofuels; hydrogen-related opportunities) to become a key player in the Central and Eastern European circular economy.

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