MOL Group updates its long-term strategy announced in 2016
03/14/2024 • Customer news
MOL Group has updated its long-term strategy SHAPE TOMORROW: the company aims to make the region greener, more self-sufficient, and more competitive. MOL Group is ensuring a smart transition with tomorrow's solutions: investing in further strengthening the region's security of supply, creating value from waste, and shaping the future of mobility with innovative technologies. The updated strategy places greater emphasis on renewable fuels, green hydrogen, biomethane, and geothermal energy. It will spend more than $4 billion on green investments in the coming years and aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
"In 2016, we were one of the first in the oil and gas industry to announce that we would diversify from fossil fuel and gradually develop ourselves in petrochemicals and consumer services. We have been following the same direction for eight years, but we have to take into account that recent years have brought radical challenges and changes in the energy industry. The time has come to update our strategy again, as sustainability targets have become more ambitious while demand for fossil fuels remains strong.
We do not believe in a dogmatic approach, we are looking for smart solutions. We are moving forward in a sober, pragmatic way enabling the green energy transition while uncompromisingly guaranteeing the security of energy supply, the competitiveness of our company, and value creation for our shareholders." - said Zsolt Hernádi, CEO of MOL Group.
He added: "This means that, alongside our traditional business activities, we will be using green energy to make our company, and thus the whole Central European region, more sustainable, self-sufficient and competitive. We create value from waste, kick-start the circular economy and further strengthen the security of supply.
"There is no question that the energy transition must be implemented and the very ambitious targets set by the European Union must be achieved. This is in the interest of all of us. MOL Group, as a leading company in the Central European industry, is doing everything it can to meet these targets and transform the company. But it is clear that it is not possible to do it alone and it is not fair if all the costs of the energy transition are passed on to industrial companies. Community goals can only be achieved with community support, smart regulation, and cooperation on all levels. MOL Group can be counted on as a partner in this common European effort."
The main priority of the updated long-term strategy is to ensure energy supply security and also enable a steady green transition. To achieve this, the company further strengthens its traditional asset portfolio and will spend more than $4 billion on green investments by 2030. The key elements of the strategy update by business area are as follows:
Downstream continues to strengthen its refining positions in Europe, while dynamically adapting to the changing needs of mobility and the economy. Renewable fuels open new dimensions in sustainable mobility: the updated strategy focuses on the production of biomethane and green hydrogen, while the circular economy increases the contribution of bio- and waste streams to production. To diversify from fossil fuels, MOL Group invests $1 billion in waste integration, recycling, and medium-scale chemical investments.
The company will make refining more flexible to meet the demands of the economic and regulatory environment and further strengthen the security of supply in the region. MOL Group also spends more than $1 billion on projects that enable energy efficiency, and the scale-up of sustainable fuels in its portfolio and substantially reduce the business's GHG emissions. To achieve these goals, we will increase the use of renewable electricity across the MOL Group, particularly in the Downstream area.
Upstream plays a key role in financing the group-level transformation, and slowing down the natural decline in production remains a priority. MOL Group will maintain production at an average daily level of at least 90 thousand barrels of oil equivalent for the next 5 years. Beyond conventional hydrocarbon production, the division strengthens its carbon-neutral projects: the company is building on its existing competencies to start geothermal exploration, launches a pilot lithium project, and focuses on building storage capacity in Carbon Capture and Storage. Upstream also further strengthens cross-border cooperation between MOL and INA, optimizes its infrastructure, and supports the security of supply in the region through efficiency improvements and cost optimization. It will further diversify its international portfolio and establish strategic partnerships.
Consumer Services aims to reach $1 billion EBITDA per year by 2030. This will require further network expansion and optimization in existing and potential new markets in the CEE region. The company plans to increase the share of non-fuel products to 65% of all transactions by 2025 and to 85% by 2030, furthermore, its goal is to have 10 million MOL MOVE users in the region. MOL will continue to transform its service stations in the CEE region, further expanding and strengthening its gastro offers. In line with market needs, it will further develop its mobility solutions, and its electric charging network and prepare for the uptake of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
MOL Group's integrated business model provides a unique solution in Europe to one of the most significant environmental challenges: waste management. The company considers waste as a valuable raw material and energy source and will increase its recycling rates to 65% by 2035, while reducing landfilling to 10%. MOL's key strategic goal is for its waste management business to provide 1.5 million tonnes of feedstock per year to the oil and energy sector from 2030.
As MOL Group is expected to consume around 2,500 GWh per annum of renewable electricity by 2030 due to Downstream decarbonization, we are building our renewable portfolio. Our green hydrogen plant in Százhalombatta will be also supplied with renewable electricity. Solar projects are expected to provide the majority of the production, and we are considering additional renewable sources and storage solutions.
More information about Mol Group's updated strategy can be found at https://molgroup.info/en/strategy-2030