• MOL Group acquired ReMat Zrt., a Hungarian market leading plastics recycling company using communal and industrial waste for creating regranules
• Aligned with its strategic goal to become a leader in the low-carbon circular economy in CEE, MOL continues building a strong portfolio in the field of plastic recycling and waste integration
• MOL’s total capacity of recycled plastic material raised to 40,000 tons/year, together with the latest acquisition of Aurora Kunststoffe Gmbh in Germany

BRATISLAVA, 1 April 2022 - MOL Group acquired ReMat Zrt., a recycler with production plants located in Tiszaújváros and Rakamaz, Hungary, and a logistics hub in Bratislava, Slovakia. ReMat is a market leading plastics recycler in Hungary with an annual processing capacity of 25,000 tons and almost 200 employees. The transaction fits into MOL’s portfolio and its goal to become a key player in the low carbon circular economy in Central and Eastern Europe.

ReMat is Hungary’s market leader in plastics recycling, using plastic waste from communal and industrial sources. The company prepares a wide range of polyethylene and polypropylene regranules and tailor-made products. ReMat has automatic selecting system, cleaning and regranulating equipment from leading manufacturers that can process up to 25,000 tons annually. With this acquisition, MOL will be able to develop tailor-made virgin and recyclate solutions to fulfill the ever-increasing demand of its customers for circular materials.

MOL Group launched its “Shape Tomorrow” 2030+ Strategy in last February, fully integrated with a new sustainability strategy, and started to act already to deliver on it. One of the main pillars of the Strategy is integrating circular economy in MOL’s operation, the company will spend USD 1bn in the next 5 years on new circular economy and green projects. Waste integration and utilisation is a key element of the new sustainable approach.

”We need plastic for our everyday life, plastic is good, what we don’t like is untreated plastic waste that is polluting the planet. MOL has started to invest in the circular economy, because we all want to live in a better environment; and for that we need more recycled goods. In addition, there is an increasing need from our customers for recycled material so good cause meets here with good business opportunities. With that in mind, in the last couple of years we started to build a strong portfolio around recycling. And we won’s stop here: for a net zero economy, we also have to use all kinds of waste as a resource, in a much more clever way than how we do today. Our goal is to become a key player in the low-carbon circular economy in Central and Eastern Europe and this acquisition is a major step towards this fascinating goal” - said Gabriel Szabó, Executive Vice President of MOL Group Downstream.

“We have come a long way since our foundation and are incredibly proud to be a pioneer within Hungary’s plastic recycling industry. Over the last two decades we have invested into state-of-the-art facilities and constantly expanded our processing capacities capable of supporting Hungary’s obligations towards the European Union regarding plastic recycling. We are excited to be joining MOL and look forward to continuing to drive growth for this attractive business” -said László Olasz, CEO of ReMat.

MOL has implemented investments already and it is continuously seeking for the opportunities to grow the share of recycled materials in its product portfolio. In November 2019, the first step was taken with the acquisition of Aurora Kunststoffe GmbH, a recycled plastic-based compounder in Germany. With a total combined annual capacity of 40,000 tons of Aurora and ReMat, MOL can offer a wide range of sustainable compounds and regranulates for the automotive and packaging industries. MOL also entered into a strategic partnership with German company APK, a pioneer in the development of plastic recycling technology, whose solvent based process is capable of producing high-quality polymers from complex plastic waste. Recently, MOL entered into strategic partnership with Swiss Meraxis to forge ahead with the development and production of polyolefin re-compounds in the future. MOL is planning investments in the field of chemical recycling as well and taking serious steps towards further waste-management activities.

About ReMat

ReMat Zrt. is based in Tiszaújváros and its origins date back to 1995, when the company started collecting and selling plastic waste. In 1997, the company started its recycling business and today has a processing capacity of 25,000 tonnes. ReMat Zrt. is the market leader in its field and the company operates in Hungary and Slovakia.

• Capacity 50 000 tonnes of biodiesel per year
• State-of-the-art technology, unique in Europe
• 85% greenhouse gas savings compared to conventional fuel
• The investment is in line with MOL Group's 2030+ "SHAPE TOMORROW" strategy

KOMÁROM, 11 March 2022 - The new plant of Rossi Biofuel in Komárom was inaugurated, which will significantly increase the biofuel production volume in Hungary. With this investment, MOL Group and Envien Group launched a technology in Europe that can boost greenhouse gas savings by more than 85 percent.

The advanced biodiesel plant of Rossi Biofuel Zrt. Was inaugurated, which will significantly increase the company's annual production and the biofuel production volume in Hungary with a capacity of 50,000 tons per year. The plant is the first in Europe to use the RepCat technology of the Austrian BDI-BioEnergy International GmbH, which is highly flexible in terms of raw materials: it also allows the processing of greasy wastes of different types and origins, such as used cooking oils, trap grease, animal fats or residues from vegetable oil production. Biodiesel produced in this way is one of the most climate-friendly fuels.

„We have brought a unique technology to Europe that allows us to produce biofuel from almost any type of fats. This is a huge success for all of us, as circular economy is one of the cornerstones of MOL Group's updated strategy. We have made a commitment to recycle waste in an efficient way, and to meet the world's growing energy needs with increasingly sustainable solutions. Energy transition is a long and complex process, but this investment clearly shows that conventional fuels can be turned into more environmentally friendly with the right technology and by using waste" – said Oszkár Világi, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of MOL Group.

Photo: Plant opening ceremony

With the construction of the plant, the MOL Group and Envien Group, the 25-75% owners of the company, are aiming to respond to both consumer and regulatory demands: the aim is for Rossi Biofuel to comply with EU rules on renewable transportation fuels. Rossi Biofuel's product is used as a bio-component in the production of diesel at Danube Refinery and Slovnaft refinery.

„This new modern plant is the Envien Group's first major investment in the production of advanced biofuels, where waste is processed into useful products. In our opinion, a plant that uses waste and mainly domestic raw materials, contributes to the greenhouse gas savings of transport and at the same time boosts and stimulates the local economy and employment, a way forward and a priority for the group. Due to the Hungarian subsidies, we decided to locate the plant in our production base in Komárom, Hungary, and we are confident that this is not our last project of this kind" – said Ing. Robert Spišák, PhD., Chairman of the Board of Rossi Biofuel.

The foundation works of the €45 million brownfield plant started in June 2020. More than 15 companies were involved in the construction work, with an average of 80 workers, but at certain times it could reach 150-170 workers. The state supported the investment with interest subsidies and a corporate tax credit, which doubled the number of Rossi Biofuel employees to over 100. The new plant was inaugurated by Dr. László Palkovics, Minister of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology, Dr. Judit Bertalan Czunyiné, Member of Parliament, Ing. Robert Spišák, PhD., Chairman of the Board of Rossi Biofuel Zrt. and Dr. Oszkár Világi, Deputy CEO of the MOL Group.

Photo: New plant in Komárom       

Photo: Dr. Oszkár Világi, Deputy CEO of MOL Group

Photo: Ing. Robert Spišák, PhD., Chairman of the Board of Rossi Biofuel Zrt.

About Rossi Biofuel

Rossi Biofuel Zrt. is part of the Envien Group, which plays a key role in the production of biodiesel in the region. Rossi Biofuel Zrt.'s biodiesel plant is located within MOL Nyrt.'s industrial base in Komárom. The plant was established as a greenfield investment in 2006 and started production in December 2007. The main activity of Rossi Biofuel Zrt. is the production of biodiesel from vegetable oils and used cooking oil, mainly harvested within the region.

Envien Group is one of the largest and most important groups of companies in the CEE region active in the production of biofuels used in blends with conventional diesel and gasoline. The Group consists of ten member companies in five European countries - Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland and Croatia.

• New propylene plant with HUF 65 billion investment will create competitive jobs in the long term
• With an annual production of 100,000 tonnes of propylene, the plant will cover a quarter of the MOL Group's total chemical needs
• The investment is part of MOL Group's updated strategy and represents a major step forward in its transformation into a chemical company

TISZAÚJVÁROS, 23 March 2022 - Official foundation stone laying ceremony of the new propylene plant of MOL Petrochemicals took place in Tiszaújváros. The plant is built as a greenfield investment for 65 billion HUF and will produce 100.000 tons of propylene, covering a significant rate of MOL’s chemical material need, increasing the self-sufficiency of the company.

This plant will provide propylene for the polyol complex already under construction, turning Tiszaújváros into the chemical capital of the region. Building of the propylene plant provides thousands of job opportunities and creates competitive workplace in the long run.

The construction of the new propylene plant integrates well into MOL Group's updated SHAPE TOMORROW 2030+ strategy, since with the help of this development the company can constantly increase the ratio of non-fuel products in its portfolio. MOL Group provides approximately USD 4.5 billion for investments that will turn Tiszaújváros into the main chemical capital of the region. The new plant has an important role in the course of developments, since it will provide stable supply of materials in three product lines of MOL  Petrochemicals. The 100.000 tons of propylene provides a quater of the company's total need.

Photo: Zsolt Hernádi, Chairman-CEO of MOL Group

 „In the last 5-10 years MOL has turned Tiszaújváros into a unique chemical center so by now the city is undoubtedly considered among the most modern petrochemical metropolises. We have a butadiene plant already built here, as well as a synthetic rubber plant that was built in cooperation with Japanese experts, and the town also hosts the largest industrial investment of the last 30 years, the polyol complex built for EUR 1.3 billion"– said Zsolt Hernádi, Chairman-CEO of MOL Group. He highlighted that with the construction of the propylene plant, MOL has reached an important milestone on the road of chemical transformation and energy transition. „This plant strengthens our self-supply capacity which is of great value for the whole country. From time-to-time history proves: we have to do everything to avoid depending on others" – he added.

Building the plant provides job opportunities for several thousands of people, the ratio of Hungarian contractors reaches approximately 50%. According to plans, the plant will start its operation in 2024 and it creates around 30-40 new competitive workplaces in the long run.

The investment represents the next milestone of a several year-long process: MOL Group is running several developments in Tiszaújváros. The butadiene extraction unit and the synthetic rubber plant are already operating, and building the polyol complex is in its final stage as well, which is one of the greatest domestic industrial investments. Additionally, the process of modernization and extending the life of the Olefin-1 plant is also progressing well, which is currently the biggest efficiency improvement program on existing equipment in Hungary.

The Hungarian Government is supporting the investment with HUF 5 billion. At the ceremony, Péter Szijjártó Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zsolt Hernádi Chairman-CEO of MOL Group and Zsófia Koncz, Member of the Hungarian Parliament laid down the foundation stone of the plant.

• Slovnaft has planned maintenance of half of its production facilities for this year, with a total value of EUR 52 million.
• The spring part of the planned mandatory shutdowns of production facilities will take place in March, the others will be in summer and autumn.
• The company has changed the system for preparing and carrying out overhauls to make them as short as possible and to minimise their impact on the surrounding area.
• Residents can find all the information about what is happening at the refinery in the mobile app Sused Slovnaft.

BRATISLAVA, March 1st 2022 - Slovnaft will start planned maintenance of part of its production facilities next weekend. This is the first part of the planned mandatory shutdowns this year, which are to affect almost half of the production facilities. The company is investing a total of EUR 52 million in mandatory maintenance, repairs and technology upgrades to improve the safety of their operation and the environmental impact of production. The overhauls of production facilities will take place in three time blocks - spring, summer and autumn. Domestic and foreign external contractors will be involved in the cleaning, inspection and repair of refinery and petrochemical facilities. Customer supplies will not be affected during the shutdowns.

"We started working on this planned maintenance two years ago. The process of managing planned outages is very complex. It involves more than 15 different Slovnaft departments and more than 300 internal staff," says Lukáš Noskovič, Project and Planned Outage Management Manager.

The spring part of the compulsory maintenance will start this weekend and will involve 1100 external specialists in addition to Slovnaft employees. During this phase, Slovnaft will shut down nine production units and the following six will be idle. The shutdown of most of them is scheduled for March 5th 2022, with all work to be completed and the manufacturing units restarted in early April.

The spring process shutdowns are preferably aimed at cleaning the equipment, which in turn reduces the energy intensity of the oil refining processes. This means lower consumption of both natural and refinery gas with a direct impact on reducing the environmental burden.

The safe shutdown and restart of production facilities are accompanied by activities that may be perceived as sensitive by nearby residents. These include the burning of materials on field burners, which causes radiation or increased noise. The opening of facilities for inspection and cleaning may be accompanied by the spread of odours. Its intensity also depends on weather conditions. The company has planned all work and activities to minimise their impact and effects on the population in the vicinity of the refinery. This is also facilitated by the Turnaround Excellence (TEX) programme, which the company has developed in collaboration with external consultants.

"TEX allows us to take all the necessary steps in advance to avoid risks in the implementation phase. Thanks to the programme, downtime has been reduced to the minimum necessary," adds Lukáš Noskovič.

Slovnaft publishes all information about planned works on its website and is also available in the mobile app Sused Slovnaft.

Slovnaft, as an important part of critical infrastructure, has long had strict anti-pandemic measures in place and during shutdowns they will also apply to all external contractors working in the production area. The summer part of the shutdowns is subsequently scheduled from the end of May to the end of July. Sixteen production units will undergo general overhauls, another three Slovnaft units will be put on technical hold and three production units will be upgraded. In the final autumn part, one production unit is scheduled to be overhauled and one follow-up unit will be in downtime.

Watch the video about the planned shutdowns: