- PKN ORLEN has finalised three transactions with Aramco involving refining, wholesale and plane fuel businesses, following PKN ORLEN’s merger with Grupa LOTOS. The European investments support expansion of Aramco’s global downstream presence. Moreover, the joint development agreement of PKN ORLEN, Aramco and SABIC for the potential Gdansk project was signed. Aramco is to supply almost 45% of PKN ORLEN’s crude oil requirement under the agreement.
According to the company’s website press release on November 30, 2022, as part of the transaction, first announced in January 2022, PKN ORLEN has retained a 70% stake in a 210,000 barrels-per-day refinery in Gdansk, with Aramco acquiring equity stakes of 30% in the refinery as well as 100% in a wholesale; and 50% in a plane fuel marketing joint venture with BP Europa SE that operates in seven airports in Poland, following PKN ORLEN’s merger with Grupa LOTOS.
– These transactions are of strategic importance in further strengthening energy supplies, not only in Poland but for the entire region. We have built the largest company in Central Europe with a diversified portfolio of assets that will effectively strengthen current business lines and develop new ones. This creates new growth opportunities to allow us to continue to expand in prospective and high-margin products. – said Daniel Obajtek, President of the PKN ORLEN Management Board.
The agreements represent a significant milestone in Aramco’s long-term strategy to grow its integrated refining and petrochemicals capacity, and expand its product portfolio across the entire hydrocarbon value chain. The transactions also seek to establish a solid foundation for further business development, and aim to complement Aramco’s strategy to expand its liquids to chemicals capacity to up to 4 million barrels per day.
– These investments are part of our efforts towards cementing Aramco’s presence in a key European market, and provide a unique opportunity to develop new liquids-to-chemicals pathways, with hopes of expanding our global downstream footprint and supporting the diversification of our portfolio. At the same time, we aspire to continue developing our product portfolio through our ongoing downstream transformation strategy. – said Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, Aramco Senior Vice President of Downstream.
Aramco and PKN ORLEN have also entered into a crude oil sales agreement, pursuant to which Aramco will supply approximately 45% of PKN ORLEN’s crude oil requirements.
In addition to the investments, Aramco, SABIC and PKN ORLEN have signed a joint development agreement to assess the technical and economic feasibility of a potential petrochemical project in the Polish city of Gdansk.
