economy
March 12, 2026
What will the modernized refinery in Rijeka bring to Croatia, what to the future owner of NIS, and what to the region?
Hungarian MOL Group and Croatian INA commissioned a modernized refinery in Rijeka on Tuesday, into which they have jointly invested more than 1.3 billion euros in the last 12 years.
TL;DR
- MOL Group and INA have completed a modernization of the Rijeka refinery after a 12-year investment cycle totaling over 1.3 billion euros.
- The modernization is expected to enhance regional energy security by increasing the production of diesel and gasoline that meet high European standards.
- The largest single investment in INA's history, nearly €700 million, was for the Rijeka refinery upgrade, including a new Delayed Coker Unit (DCU).
- The DCU will increase diesel production by up to 30% and reduce Croatia's need to import derivatives and vacuum gas oil.
- Crude oil processing capacity is projected to increase from over 3 million tons annually to around 4 million tons by 2027.
- The project faced a two-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which disrupted supply chains and increased material costs.
- INA is investing over €60 million in green hydrogen production facilities at the Rijeka refinery, aiming for a capacity of 1,500 tons per year by 2027.
- The green hydrogen is intended for transport and industry, with potential to offset CO2 emissions equivalent to removing 5,000 cars annually.
- INA is also investing in other renewable energy sources, including solar power, biomethane, and exploring geothermal and wind energy potential.
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