More than 400 tonnes of used cooking oil have already been brought by customers to Slovnaft petrol stations for recycling. The service of collecting oil from households has been offered by the largest network of petrol stations for more than 11 years. From collected oil, the partner company Meroco produces a biofuel component, which Slovnaft adds to diesel fuel. The biofuel component from used cooking oil significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Ten years ago, most households in Slovakia separated only paper and plastics. Used cooking oil usually ended up in the sewer or, in the worst case, in the garden behind the house. Slovnaft started collecting used cooking oil from households in 2011, and at that time the service was more of an awareness-raising project than an activity with a real environmental impact. Gradually, however, people's attitude towards the oil from their kitchens has changed and separating used cooking oil is now a natural part of most households. You can drop off used cooking oil at 212 service stations in 118 towns and cities.

"We started out in the green, so to speak, and now collecting used cooking oil is a matter of course, even a waste management obligation for municipalities. We are pleased that our activity - an innovative service for customers at the time of its inception - has become an inspiration for other commercial entities. We see that people care about nature. That is why oil collection is deeply integrated into our environmental activities and our service offer," says Anton Molnár, spokesperson for Slovnaft.

In the first three quarters of this year, customers of Slovnaft petrol stations brought and handed over for recycling more than 47 tonnes of used cooking oil, which is 9% more than in the same period a year ago. This is an additional 47 tonnes of oil that did not end up in the sewer or in nature.

"We see the Christmas period as a time when we cook, bake and fry more at home. We therefore expect that, as in previous years, the consumption of oil will again increase and consequently the amount that people take away for further processing. The more oil that ends up in the harvest, the better for nature. This way we can do a lot together," says A. Molnár.

It is a good idea to collect used cooking oil in a plastic bottle or in its original packaging so that the glass container does not break during transport and the oil does not deteriorate. Before pouring, it is important to let it cool and strain it through a sieve so that no food residues remain. The collected cooking oil should be taken to the filling station and handed over to the attendant. For every deciliter of oil, BONUS klub members will receive one BONUS point.

• Dakar 2023 will be the longest since 2014 and brings a range of new features
• Štefan Svitko and Slovnaft Rally Team are ready
• the KTM motorcycle and accompanying vehicles leave to Saudi Arabia on Monday, November 28th, the team members will fly to the rally at the end of December 2022

BRATISLAVA, November 25th 2022 – Štefan Svitko, the most successful Slovak motorcycle rider with three European championship titles, multiple Slovak champion in enduro and cross country, will start the prestigious Dakar Rally 2023 for the fourteenth time in the colours of the Slovnaft Rally Team. Again with the official status of "Dakar Legend" and his usual number 142. Dakar 2023 comes with several new features.

The 45th Dakar Rally starts a little earlier than usually - on New Year's Eve, December 31st, 2022. Saudi Arabia is hosting the most prestigious race in the world for the fourth time and the organizers have prepared a physically and technically demanding track for the riders. It will run across the entire country, with up to 70% of the track being new. Covering more than 5,000 kilometres, the current Dakar is the longest since 2014. A major novelty should be the different itineraries of the routes. The stage will have two variations, with riders being randomly assigned to these routes. The organisers have solved the riders' reluctance to start the stage by allocating a bonus time compensation for the first rider. The stage is always started by the winner of the previous one. Dakar 2023 should also be run without neutralisation zones. These are time trial sections with regulated speed, during which riders could complete minor repairs or eat, but they split the stages and slowed down considerably.

Slovak rider with an official "Dakar legend" title, Štefan Svitko, is not afraid of the news: "We will see if the organisers' plans for changes will come true in reality. My guess is that there will be more wandering on the rough routes, but on the other hand, that's what the Dakar is all about. To reach into your reserves and concentrate fully on the terrain and the route. Every year I go into the Dakar Rally with respect and focus on riding every stage to the best of my ability."

It starts in the west of Saudi Arabia, on the Red Sea coast about 300 kilometres north of Jeddah, and continues crossing the country to the east to the world's largest sand desert, Ar-Rub' al-Khali (Empty Quarter). The finish will bring the riders to the east coast to the Arabian Gulf in Dammam, where the names of the overall winners will be revealed on January 15th 2023. Riders will face fourteen challenging stages from sand dunes through uninhabited areas, as well as sections through the northwestern mountains.

Štefan did not underestimate his preparation for Dakar this year either. He took every opportunity to get on the sand. The icing on the cake was his overall victory in the Africa Eco Race, which symbolically ended in Dakar, Senegal. "The Africa Eco Race was a great experience with a good atmosphere, but now I'm focusing solely on the Dakar. Physically, I'm fine. Before the Dakar, I would like to make it to the High Tatras, where I traditionally improve my fitness and do a few more training sessions on sand," says Štefan Svitko.

Slovnaft Rally Team is going to Dakar 2023 with its proven line-up from last year. Štefan Svitko and his Dakar mechanic Zlatko Novosád have been joined by physiotherapist Jakub Kmet'ko. „Jakub was already a great asset not only for me but also for the team last year, so I am very happy that he is coming with us again," says Štefan.  Svitko will ride his 14th Dakar Rally as usual on a KTM 450 Rally Replica motorcycle with tuned suspension. The announced route through the vast desert in the east of the country promises an attractive spectator spectacle. „If it works out and more stages are run on sand, I'll be happy. I prefer to ride on it rather than on rocky terrain, which increases the risk of a crash or technical complication. However, the stages in the hot desert climate and the overall longer Dakar mean that both fitness and technics will take a beating. I've been riding the same bike for several years now, both me and my mechanic Zlatko Novosád know it well. I believe that we will avoid all the technical problems that we literally encountered in almost every stage at the last Dakar," adds Svitko.

15 kilograms of freshly roasted Fresh Corner coffee will also provide a physical and mental boost for Štefan and the Slovnaft Rally Team during the two demanding weeks. In addition to coffee and traditional bivouac equipment, the bike will also be accompanied by reliable products from the MOL Dynamic and EVOX range, essential for the proper functioning of the bike in extreme conditions. For engine lubrication Svitko uses MOL Dynamic Moto 4T Racing 10W-50 oil, which has been specially developed for demanding conditions, and for chain protection he uses MOL Dynamic Moto Chain O-X 400 ML. Štefan Svitko has been able to count on the support of his partner, Slovnaft, for fourteen years. "Although we are a close team, Štefan always surprises us with his fighting spirit, tenacity and humanity. In the evening he exchanges maximum concentration on the track for a smile on his face and hospitality. His stories about meeting riders from all over the world for coffee in Svitko's bivouac are legendary," says Anton Molnár, Slovnaft's spokesman and Head of Communications.

Štefan's perseverance, enthusiasm for driving and constant improvement are also an inspiration for Slovnaft. "Just like Štefan works on himself, we are also developing and constantly improving our quality. After two years of development and testing, this year we introduced our improved EVO and EVO Plus fuels with a new additive. The so-called EVOTECH formula extends engine life, improves performance and reduces emissions. This is confirmed by the fact that Štefan Svitko, a world-class rider, regularly fills his bike with our premium EVO 100 Plus petrol. Before his journey to the Dakar, we wish him especially good health and the proverbial dose of luck on the Dakar itself, so that the Slovnaft Rally Team will once again produce a result that will please every fan of motorsport," adds Anton Molnár.

Since his debut in Dakar in 2010, Štefan Svitko has competed in all editions with the support of Slovnaft. At the very first Dakar in the motorcycle category he took thirteenth place and became the most successful rookie. The following year, he failed to finish the eighth stage due to a bike failure and had to withdraw. Two years later he had a nasty crash and withdrew from the competition with just three stages to go. He finished ninth in 2013, but finished fifth overall in 2012 and 2015. In 2016, he achieved his best result to date, when he triumphed in 2nd place. In 2017, he finished 25th (without the penalty, he would have finished 7th). Two unlucky seasons followed, when he injured his shoulder in the 2018 Dakar and retired from the 8th place after the 10th stage. In 2019, he withdrew due to a motorcycle failure on stage 8, again from a fantastic 8th place overall. He finished 11th overall in 2020, and finished 8th overall the following year. He finished 12th in 2022. At the Dakar Rally, Svitko is a highly respected rider and part of the world's elite. His name is also shining with the title of "Dakar legend", for riders who have taken part in the world's toughest marathon rally more than ten times.  In addition to speed and courage, he has also shown humanity many times in his career. When his opponents got injured and needed help, he didn't hesitate. This approach was recognised in September 2021 by two prestigious organisations: the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee and the College of the Fair Play Club awarded him the highest Fair Play award "Ján Popluhár Award" for 2020 and the European Fair Play Movement awarded him the European Fair Play Merit Plaque and the 2021 Diploma for exceptional behaviour and approach. In March 2022, Svitko became a laureate of the Extraordinary Crystal Wing Award.

Supporters of the Slovak national team can follow the current events throughout the race, including interesting information from behind the scenes on his fan page: www.facebook.com/StefanSvitkoFanklub and on his official website www.stefansvitko.com. Slovnaft's social media will also provide updates during the Dakar Rally (facebook.com/myslovnaft and instagram.com/myslovnaft).

• the company has invested a total of €69 million in its assets this year
• a total of 33 refinery and petrochemical production units were shut down
• supply of customers was smooth and uninterrupted during the planned turnarounds

Bratislava, 30th of November 2022 – The Bratislava Slovnaft refinery comleted this year's cycle of planned maintenance and modernisation at the end of November. During the year, it gradually shut down 33 refinery and petrochemical production units in three phases. Slovnaft invested a total of EUR 69 million in the cleaning, maintenance and modernisation of its production facilities. As a result, they are safer and have a lower environmental burden. The planned shutdowns took the company two years to prepare, and more than 2,300 domestic and foreign external contractors were involved in cleaning, inspecting and repairing the refining and petrochemical facilities.

In the final, autumn phase, a turnaround was carried out on one diesel production unit, and another unit was only in a so-called process shutdown, which means that cleaning work on some equipment and minor repairs were carried out on it. Slovnaft's production started to run normally on 27 November 2022.

„Planned turnarounds have increased the safe and efficient operation of refining and petrochemical assets and reduced energy consumption. Even during turnarounds of half of the refinery assets, the supply to Slovnaft's service stations and wholesale customers was uninterrupted. At the same time, we had all works and activities planned in such a way as to minimize impact on the population living near the refinery," said Martin Bičan, Manager of Project Management and Planned Turnarounds at SLOVNAFT, a.s., Martin Bičan.

Watch the path of crude oil at the Slovnaft refinery. Ladislav Nagy, Head of Operation, is your guide through the heavily guarded critical infrastructure area: SLOVNAFT TV

This year's planned turnarounds started in March with the spring phase on nine production units and work was completed in early April. The summer phase, which lasted from May to July, was the most challenging. Twenty-one production units, including the Ethylene unit, were gradually shut down and restarted after the work had been carried out. The first phase of the modernisation project was carried out in this key part of the petrochemical plant, aimed at operational safety and life extension. A unique project in the summer turnaround was the replacement of the ageing atmospheric furnace on Atmospheric Distillation Unit 5 (AD5), which had been in operation since 1967, with a new one. At the same time, a column was replaced on AD5 to make the distillation process more efficient and reduce the risk of fire. The replacement of two pumps in the refinery's Circulation Centre has in turn brought a direct reduction in energy consumption. The annual electricity consumption within the Circulation Centre is expected to decrease by 6.7%. In the autumn part, which closed this year's cycle, the company focused on unit important for the production of diesel fuel, which is one of Slovnaft's key products for foreign markets as well.

About the production zone SLOVNAFT, a.s

The refining and petrochemical company in the south-eastern part of Bratislava covers an area of approximately 400 hectares. The production zone is divided into blocks with seven operational units, a railway, a logistics terminal, energy infrastructure and warehouses. Of the total area of the site, 270 hectares are grassed over and there are more than 10.000 trees growing there. Outside the main area is a mechanical-chemical-biological wastewater treatment plant, which is one of the largest ecological structures in the region. SLOVNAFT, a.s. is one of the three most modern refinery-petrochemical complexes in Europe. The EFPA (Environmental Fuel Project Apollo) complex is key for the refinery and the petrochemical part includes the state-of-the-art LDPE4 n polyolefin complex for polyethylene production and the PP3 production unit where polypropylene is produced.

About SLOVNAFT Group

The SLOVNAFT Group is an integrated refining and petrochemical group. The key company of the Group is SLOVNAFT, a.s., which is mainly engaged in the processing of crude oil in one of the most complex European refineries and in the wholesale and retail sale of fuels. Slovnaft operates the largest network of petrol stations in the Slovak Republic. The company is one of Slovakia's leaders in CSR and corporate philanthropy, and significantly supports sports, culture, education, youth and environmental revitalisation. Forbes magazine ranked Slovnaft among the most valuable Slovak brands. SLOVNAFT Group is a member of the international MOL Group.

Contact person:
Anton Molnár
Spokesperson and Head of Communications
Tel: +421 905 393 161

• in the autumn part of the planned turnarounds, maintenance of two production units of the refinery will be carried out, the total cost will reach 2 million euros
• the largest volume of work concerns the Gasoil Hydrotreating plant
• The Slovnaft Neighbour app will provide up-to-date information to residents in the vicinity of the refinery

Bratislava, 7 October 2022 - The autumn part of the planned maintenance work will start at the Slovnaft refinery in Bratislava on Saturday, 8 October 2022. A total of two production units will go into shutdown and will be back in operation on 27 November 2022. This is the last, smallest part of this year's cycle of planned shutdowns, divided into spring, summer and autumn.

The Gasoil Hydrotreating plant, where diesel is produced, will undergo a major turnaround in October. Slovnaft customers will not feel the shutdown of the production unit. The second unit, the Sulphuric Acid Regeneration, will be shut down in a technological shutdown with only cleaning work and minor repairs will be carried out before the coming winter.

Photo: Turnarounds in the Slovnaft refinery - illustrative shot

"The total maintenance costs will reach two million euros. The main contractor of the maintenance works is the single service company Slovnaft Montáže a Opravy. Approximately 180 external workers, mainly from engineering companies, will be involved in the turnarounds," explains Martin Bičan, manager of planned outages at Slovnaft. 

The Gasoil Hydrotreating plant is a key part of technologies in the production of diesel and during the turnaround will be subjected to inspections for safe operation in accordance with legislative requirements. At the Sulphuric Acid Regeneration plant, the encapsulated heat exchanger will be replaced. Together with the cleaning works, this will contribute to more efficient operation.

Photo: Turnarounds in the Slovnaft refinery - illustrative shot

The shutdown and start-up of the production units require activities whose concomitant phenomena may cause disturbance to the residents living in the vicinity of the refinery

"Our aim is to minimise the impact of our activities on the refinery's surroundings, but it is not possible to eliminate them completely. We regularly inform about the impact of the works on the comfort of the residents on our website as well as in The Neighbour Slovnaft app," adds M. Bičan.

The autumn phase will conclude this year's three blocks of planned turnarounds with the maintenance of 33 production units and total investments for inspections, checks, cleaning, repairs and investments at the level of EUR 69 million. Unique performances of the most challenging summer block with 21 production units turnaround included the replacement of two kilometres of pipelines, the replacement of the F1 roller furnace and C6 column at the Atmospheric Distillation Plant and the replacement of pumps at the circulation centres. The main objective was to reduce the environmental burden, reduce the energy impacts of crude oil product production and improve the safety of complex process equipment.

Photo: Turnarounds in the Slovnaft refinery - illustrative shot

The F1 cylindrical furnace at the Atmospheric Distillation Plant was replaced after 55 years of operation. A 750-tonne crawler crane was required to dispose of the old furnace and install the new one, which was pre-built on the premises of the production unit. The unique operation can be viewed in a time-lapse video.