The ORLEN Group has announced the opening of ten new service stations in Slovakia and has joined the five largest fuel retailers operating in that market. In total, the Group now has a chain comprised of 36 locations across Slovakia. The new self-service stations are located in Bratislava, Košice, as well as other cities. Once its chain expansion is complete, the Group will have more than 90 stations, ranking among Slovakia’s top three fuel retailers.
“In line with the Group’s strategy, we keep strengthening our foothold in foreign markets. We effectively draw on our experience gained through international expansion to rapidly grow our Slovak chain. In just three years, we have managed to build a strong and recognisable brand. We are aware of the market’s huge potential and, importantly, we also have a strong wholesale presence there, complementing our value chain,” said Daniel Obajtek, CEO of PKN ORLEN.
The total size of the ORLEN Group’s retail network in foreign markets is now close to 1,100 stations. One of the objectives of the ORLEN2030 strategy is to bring up the share of foreign stations within the Group’s network from 37 per cent to 45 per cent.
The new ORLEN-branded self-service stations have opened following the rebranding of ten out of a total of 25 stations acquired by the ORLEN Group from a local chain. The rebranding of all stations in the portfolio is due for completion by the end of 2022. The new stations sell EFECTA fuels and are fully automated. The ORLEN Group operates a total of 14 self-service stations in the Slovak market that complement the offering of 22 non-fuel retail outlets.
The ORLEN Group has been present in Slovakia since 2019 when it opened its first service station in the country. By the end of 2022, the chain will grow to 50 sites, with additional 41 stations to be acquired from MOL as one of the remedies implemented following its merger with LOTOS. At present, the ORLEN Group also holds an approximately 15 per cent share of the wholesale fuel market in Slovakia.
Separately, in the area of hydrogen, PKN ORLEN also recently announced plans to build 3 public stations in Poland for refuelling hydrogen vehicles.
