Croatian oil company pilots SAF coprocessing at Rijeka refinery

INA's Rijeka refinery in Croatia. (Photo: INA)

For the first time in its history, Croatian oil company INA’s Rijeka refinery has produced sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

As part of its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and align with European renewable energy regulations, INA has successfully completed a pilot project to process biogenic feedstock at the hydrocracking unit of the Rijeka refinery.

In addition to SAF, a significant volume of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel, was also produced.

Through the Renewable Energy Directive, the European Union has set binding targets to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions and increase the share of renewable energy sources in transport.

By 2030, EU member states are required to ensure an appropriate share of renewables in the transport sector, with a particular focus on advanced biofuels and SAF, which will play a key role in decarbonizing the aviation industry.

In response to these requirements, INA said it plans to complete all preparatory activities and be ready to ensure continuous supply of SAF to the market by 2029.

The project was implemented in cooperation with the unit’s licensor, Chevron Lummus Global, with the aim of testing the coprocessing of 5 percent palm-oil mill effluent (POME) with fossil feedstocks.

The pilot project was carried out May 5-13, during which 1,000 metric tons of biogenic feedstock were processed.

The entire process was certified by the independent auditor Bureau Veritas in line with the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification System’s standard for sustainable biofuels.

“Processing biogenic feedstock within existing infrastructure is one of the most efficient ways to decarbonize refinery operations and increase the share of renewables in the transport sector,” said Ivica Jerbić, the director of development at INA. “Thanks to the commitment of our internal team and the collaboration with partners from MOL Group and CLG, we have successfully created the necessary preconditions to meet the future needs of the market and our customers.”

The preparation of the pilot project took eight months due to the complexity of processing a new type of feedstock and its specific physical and chemical properties.

The project involved a range of activities, from procuring specialized filters and adapting laboratory methods to increasing the capacities of the hydrocracking and vacuum-distillation units and ensuring controlled handling of the biogenic feedstock within existing operating conditions.

During the test run, more than 400 samples were collected for detailed analysis conducted at INA’s Central Testing Laboratory, while the biogenic content (C14 analysis) was carried out by accredited external laboratories—the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb and Isotoptech Zrt. in Debrecen.

“This pilot project has created the foundation for further activities and the introduction of continuous biogenic-feedstock processing at the Rijeka refinery in the near future,” said Goran Pleše, INA’s operating director of refining and marketing. “With this project, INA continues to innovate and efficiently adapt to the requirements of the new-energy era.”