ORLEN Group Launches SAF Fuels Across Baltic Markets
Aircraft departing from Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn can now refuel with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The fuel became available across Baltic markets last week through ORLEN Lietuva's distribution network. The Group had earlier introduced the fuel at Warsaw, Kraków and Katowice airports in Poland, as well as in Prague in the Czech Republic.
"Following the successful rollout of SAF at Polish airports, we are expanding our offering to Baltic markets. Making sustainable aviation fuel available in Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn marks another step towards delivering ORLEN’s 2035 strategy. We are maintaining momentum and intensifying efforts to increase SAF accessibility. This approach enables us not only to meet EU regulatory requirements but also to implement practical solutions that drive effective decarbonisation," said Ireneusz Sitarski, Vice-President of the ORLEN Management Board, Wholesale and Logistics.
Sustainable aviation fuel represents an innovative solution that substantially reduces carbon footprint in air transport. Depending on the production pathway, SAF can be derived from feedstocks such as used cooking oils, municipal waste, and industrial, agricultural or forestry residues. The renewable component is subsequently blended with conventional JET fuel, to produce a blend fully compatible with existing aircraft engines, enabling immediate deployment without technical modifications to aircraft.
Since early 2025, SAF has been widely deployed across Europe, moving beyond pilot phase to become a viable alternative to conventional aviation fuels. By introducing SAF to its market, ORLEN complies with the EU's ReFuelEU Aviation regulation, which mandates a 2% sustainable fuel share of total sales in 2025. The regulation applies to EU airports that handled over 800,000 passengers or 100,000 tonnes of cargo in the previous year. ORLEN currently offers SAF refuelling services at three domestic airports: Warsaw Chopin, Kraków and Katowice.
As part of its SAF technology development programme, ORLEN is constructing a hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) facility in Płock, which will enable aviation fuel production from used cooking oils. Until the facility becomes operational, renewable components for SAF production are sourced internationally from the Netherlands and Singapore. This investment is a key element of the Group's strategy to enhance feedstock independence and develop domestic sustainable fuel sources.
SAF deliveries are part of ORLEN's broader portfolio of initiatives designed to support aviation's transition towards climate neutrality, and thus accelerate decarbonisation across the aviation sector.
ORLEN Lietuva operates the only crude oil refinery in the Baltic states at Mažeikiai. Since 2006, the Group has invested nearly EUR 4.5 billion in the facility’s development. The company is Lithuania's largest taxpayer and a cornerstone of the national economy. ORLEN Lietuva also manages logistics operations through the Būtingė marine terminal and Mockava rail terminal, enabling efficient crude imports and refined product exports, including sustainable aviation fuel.
