MOL in Poland. The first petrol station after Lotos is open – the president of MOL Polska, Richard Austen, comments

As part of the remedial measures related to the merger of Orlen and Lotos, MOL took over the majority, i.e. over 410, of the gas stations of the Gdańsk concern. The agreement on this matter was signed at the end of November 2022. In turn, the PKN Orlen network was expanded by about 100 Lotos service stations.

The first station under the MOL brand was launched in Klemencice in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, at the S7 expressway. The facility began operating at the beginning of February, but on Friday there was a symbolic opening with the participation of representatives of the Hungarian concern. – Poland is a large market, the largest on which we operate. (…) You can expect rebranding of more stations, new fuels, a loyalty program, a new gastronomic concept from us – said the president of MOL Polska, Richard Austen, during the opening ceremony of the station.

This is one of over 410 Lotos stations taken over by the Hungarian concern. Peter Ratatics, Executive Vice President of the MOL Group for Consumer Services, announced that the rebranding of the stations previously owned by the Gdańsk-based company should last until the end of 2024. “We need about two years to rebrand,” he said.

As reported, the cost of rebranding will depend on the station and its technical condition, but the company estimates that it may amount to PLN 60-100 thousand. dollars per point.

In March, it is planned to open two more MOL stations in Budykierz and Przyimy.

In the future, Slovnaft Polska stations operating in the south of the country will also operate under the MOL brand, thanks to which the group’s Polish network will approach 500 stations. According to the data of the Polish Organization of Oil Industry and Trade (POPiHN), there were 85 Slovnaft stations operating in Poland at the end of 2022.

At the end of last year, PKN Orlen had the most stations in Poland – 1920. BP was in second place. There were 574 stations belonging to the concern in our country. MOL – including Slovnaft stations – will be on the lowest step of the podium in terms of the number of petrol stations in Poland.

Shell is fourth with 455 points, Moya is fifth with 401 stations, and CircleK is sixth with 393.

As representatives of the MOL Group informed, the Polish market is very competitive. When asked about the biggest challenge, Ratatics replied that they are it fuel prices. – Margins in Poland are low, but we are used to competitive conditions – said Ratatics.

– We want to have as many stations as possible. Realistically, we would like to have up to 600 stations in Poland. We see a lot of development opportunities here. We do not rule out acquisitions, but also greenfield investments, for example in MOP points – said Peter Ratatics.

When asked when the group would like to reach the goal of around 600 stations, he replied: “I think within five years.”

The Group does not expect problems with the supply of fuels in the short term, in connection with EU embargo on imports of Russian fuelswhich has been in effect since February 5. – Poland is in a much better position than countries that have no access to the sea, for example The czech republicor Hungary. Fuels can be imported by sea, Ratatics said.

As he informed, this year the volume of fuels exported by MOL from the Slovak refinery to Poland may be similar as before, but next year exports may be lower.

Ratatics indicated that the group has a long-term supply contract with the Orlen Group. It also does not exclude import by sea, it is also open to, for example, cooperation with Saudi Aramco.

The MOL Group has been present on the Polish market since 1997. Since 2004, the company has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.