Orlen and Equinor’s Green Partnership
Orlen and Equinor Partner to Develop Carbon Capture and Storage Projects
March 3, 2025 – Warsaw/Gdańsk – Polish energy giant Orlen and Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in Poland and beyond.
The agreement, signed by Irene Rummelhoff, Executive Vice President at Equinor, and Wiesław Prugar, Orlen Management Board Member for Upstream, underscores both companies’ commitment to reducing industrial carbon emissions and building a robust CCS value chain.
Exploring Carbon Storage Potential in Poland and the Baltic Sea
Under the MoU, Orlen and Equinor will collaborate to identify viable carbon dioxide storage sites, evaluating both onshore locations in Poland and offshore geological formations in the Polish sector of the Baltic Sea.
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“We believe there are geological formations in Poland that are well-suited for carbon dioxide storage, and we eagerly await the country’s regulatory framework to move forward,” said Irene Rummelhoff during a press briefing in Warsaw.
Equinor, a leading CCS technology developer, has extensive experience in storing CO₂ in the Norwegian Continental Shelf, where it has successfully executed large-scale CCS projects such as Northern Lights. The company sees an opportunity to apply its expertise to Poland, which is in the early stages of developing CCS infrastructure.
“We see significant potential in Poland for carbon dioxide storage. While we could collaborate on CCS solutions in the Norwegian Continental Shelf, we also believe in the feasibility of working together to establish local CCS sites in Poland,” added Wiesław Prugar of Orlen.
Orlen’s CCS Strategy: Targeting 4 Million Tons Annually
As part of its long-term sustainability goals, Orlen aims to capture, transport, and store up to 4 million metric tons of CO₂ per year by 2035. The company has recognized CCS as a critical pillar in its decarbonization efforts, helping to reduce emissions from industrial sectors and support Poland’s energy transition.
The partnership with Equinor strengthens Orlen’s ability to accelerate its CCS ambitions, leveraging Norwegian expertise in offshore carbon storage while developing domestic storage capabilities.
Strategic Importance for Poland’s Energy Transition
Poland remains one of Europe’s most coal-dependent economies, making carbon capture and storage an essential tool for meeting EU climate targets. The collaboration between Orlen and Equinor is a major step toward building Poland’s CCS infrastructure, ensuring that heavy industries have a viable pathway to decarbonization.
The success of this initiative will depend on Polish regulatory support, with both companies anticipating new CCS policies and legislative frameworks that will enable large-scale deployment.
Looking Ahead
With this partnership, Orlen and Equinor are positioning themselves at the forefront of CCS development in Central and Eastern Europe. As climate regulations tighten and demand for low-carbon solutions increases, the success of these projects could serve as a blueprint for future CCS initiatives across the region.
Both companies will now proceed with feasibility studies and site assessments, with a long-term goal of establishing a full-scale carbon capture, transport, and storage network that supports a greener, more sustainable energy future for Poland.
