Orlen Expands Anwil Fertilizer Output
Poland’s PKN Orlen, which earlier this month took full control of Czech refiner and petrochemicals producer Unipetrol, has announced plans to invest around 1 billion zloty ($268 million) in an expansion of nitrogen fertilizer capacity at its Anwil subsidiary.
The company intends to raise output by 430,000 t/y from its current capacity of around 1.16 million t/y. There are also plans to add four new products, widening its fertilizer portfolio. Once completed, Orlen said the investment will create 200 jobs by 2021.
Orlen is also considering increasing production of PVC at Anwil. The Wloclawek company, Poland’s only producer of PVC, has a current capacity of approximately 560,000 t/y.
“Anwil is one of the most important members of the Orlen Group. We are focusing on further development of this company and have no plans of selling it,” stated Orlen’s president, Daniel Obajtek. “Thanks to the planned investments, Anwil will significantly strengthen its position on the fertilizers market and in the area of PVC.”
Orlen ended talks with fellow state-owned company Grupa Azoty in July 2016 on the sale of part or all of Anwil. Earlier this month, Grupa Azoty’s shareholders approved the acquisition of German specialty fertilizer group Compo Expert.
