PKN ORLEN sees opportunities in development of production assets in southern Poland. Hence the decision on construction of propylene glycol installation which will enable further use of the glycerine produced. Glycol is a product commonly used, inter alia, in cosmetics. The production capacity of the planned installation will come to approx. 30 thousand tons per annum. It means that production in the refinery in Trzebinia will be able to cover as much as 75% of demand for this product in Poland. ORLEN Południe will become, in this way, the first manufacturer of glycol in the country. The investment outlays within this scope are estimated at over PLN 200 million.
ORLEN Południe is a pioneer on the domestic market of biofuels and biocomponents as well as an important link in the delivery chain of biocomponents within ORLEN Group. Investments in development of our southern assets do not only mean further strengthening of the company position in the region but it also means effective adaptation to requirements of the evolving market, within the scope of environmental protection as well. It is ultimately an opportunity for new jobs and development of staff members’ competences in new areas – said Daniel Obajtek, President of the Management Board of PKN ORLEN.
ORLEN Południe consistently develops bio specialist pillar, focusing on development of know-how and a number of optimization activities that are fundamental to the development of biorefineries. The use of technical glycerine for production of glycol is one of the elements forming part of these operations. Propylene glycol can be used, among others, for production of cosmetics as a solvent giving desirable consistency of emulsion to a cosmetic and as a skin moisturising component. Therefore, it is applicable, inter alia, in toothpaste, hand hygiene agents, cleaning agents and as a main component of deodorant stick. The Company already holds a licence for this technology. The process of selecting the investment contractor is underway at present. The anticipated schedule for implementation of the investment encompasses 2019-2021.
PKN ORLEN has also initiated an energy investment in ORLEN Południe heat and power plant in Trzebinia which forms a part of the strategy for development of modern co-generation industrial power engineering. As a result of the investment, it will be possible to reduce fuel consumption, reduce emission standards of sulphur dioxide by 45%, nitrogen dioxide by 32% and dusts by 87%. Within it, for instance new gas boilers will be made to replace the existing coal-fired boiler. In consequence, the raw material feedstock which produces technological steam and electric energy of the heat and power plant, based so far on coal (98%) and heating oil admixture, will be replaced with coal and gas feedstock (in proportion of 50% each). This variant is optimal in technical and economic terms as well as allows for flexible reaction to and adaptation of production processes to changes of coal and gas prices. It is significant that the investment will allow meeting the restrictive standards pertaining to production of technological steam from sources with lower emissivity, in line with requirements of the RED Directive and the National Index Target arising out of the climate package.
Within strengthening of the ORLEN Południe position, development projects in the Jedlicze Plant are executed too. Preliminary design works on construction of the installation for Production of Bioethanol of Generation II are pending. The investment is significant in the context of rising challenges related to the Union directives which oblige Poland to use renewable fuels and biocomponents in transport. The investment planned in Jedlicze aims at processing straw mainly into biofuels of generation II. After having reconnoitred the raw material market, letters of intent were signed for delivery of straw as the raw material. It will allow for exploitation of potential of the local agriculture in south-eastern region of Poland. Implementation of the investment will also enable the increased exploitation of the terrain for ORLEN Południe investments, possessed in Jedlicze. The project is in the design phase at present. Analyzes on, inter alia, acquisition of the technology supplier are underway.