Orlen remains Poland’s largest company. Its sales revenues in 2024 reached nearly 295 billion PLN, compared with over 372 billion PLN the year before, according to Rzeczpospolita’s “Lista 500” report. In last year’s Fortune 500 ranking of the world’s biggest corporations, Orlen placed 216th globally and 44th in Europe.
According to Daniel Obajtek, PiS MEP and former CEO of Orlen, the company should continue to grow – delivering benefits to consumers and accelerating investments in petrochemicals and low- and zero-emission energy.
“The whole world is building very large corporations. When I was expanding Orlen, critics said I was creating a chaebol, dangerous for the market. But what are Shell and BP, companies six to ten times bigger, doing today? They are merging to compete with U.S. giants like Chevron. That is normal,”
Obajtek told Newseria.
Bigger Company, Stronger Consumer Benefits
Obajtek stressed that consumers ultimately benefit from a larger, state-owned company with stronger market share.
“First, consumers gain directly because Orlen is state-owned, which ensures citizens are not exploited. Second, as a national company, Orlen contributes significantly to the state budget, funding investments, security, and social initiatives, including sports. Regulatory bodies such as UOKiK and the European Commission also monitor Orlen to prevent abuse of dominance,”
he said.
“I believe Orlen should be 30–40% bigger in Poland to secure prices for consumers.”
He argued that scale strengthens Orlen’s negotiating position on global commodity markets and makes it a more attractive partner internationally.
Energy Transformation Strategy
Operating in seven countries across Central and Eastern Europe, Orlen has set a goal of becoming a leader in the region’s energy transition by 2035. Its strategy includes:
- using natural gas as a transitional fuel in the shift away from coal,
- diversifying raw material supplies,
- decarbonizing transport by investing in low-emission fuels and adapting to electrification,
- expanding zero-emission energy sources, with investments in wind and solar capacity,
- and developing energy storage and small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs).
By 2035, Orlen expects to have 12.8 GW of renewable capacity and to begin implementing SMR technology.
Obajtek emphasized that many of the projects in Orlen’s new strategy were prepared under his leadership.
“What would I advise? Get to work. I am curious to see whether by 2026 you will break ground on the first SMR reactor. Poland should build at least 10 SMRs in the next decade, which would give us energy independence,”
he said.
He argued that small nuclear reactors could significantly lower industrial energy costs, which he sees as essential for Poland’s competitiveness.
Petrochemicals and Innovation
Obajtek also highlighted the importance of strengthening Orlen’s role in the regional petrochemical industry.
“Petrochemicals are not a dying industry – they are the industry of the future. Everything around us will increasingly be petrochemical, as the world shifts away from natural raw materials,”
he said.
“Orlen should also develop its retail business, expand zero- and low-emission energy, invest in gas, and acquire stakes in promising technology companies – from robotics to other advanced fields.”
Massive Investment Plans
Under its strategy for 2025–2035, Orlen plans to invest between 350 and 380 billion PLN. Around three-quarters of this budget will be flexible spending, to be allocated by the management depending on future needs and market conditions.
