Slovnaft cuts the planned capacity of its Waste Energy Recovery Centre

Mol Group’s Slovakian subsidiary, Slovnaft, announced significant updates to its planned Waste Energy Recovery Centre (CEZO) in Bratislava. The facility’s capacity will be reduced by 30 per cent to 220 thousand tonnes per year, with a new focus on processing more industrial waste (35 per cent of the total capacity), alongside 54 per cent municipal waste and 11 per cent liquid waste, mainly sludge. This shift addresses Slovakia’s need for better industrial waste solutions, with an estimated 320 million euros investment, according to Slovnaft.

According to the Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment, Tomáš Taraba, the originally submitted investment plan of the facility was oversized and unacceptable for the government. “We will certainly not allow Slovakia to become the trash can of Europe,” concluded Taraba.

Slovnaft claims that the revised plans reflect the requirements of the ministry and the wider public. CEZO is planned to be built within Slovnaft’s refinery, to be able to use the existing infrastructure and advanced safety measures, including a 799-well groundwater protection system. CEZO will process only non-recyclable waste, which currently ends up in landfills or incinerators without the heat generated being utilised. It will produce so much energy from waste that it could double the current heat supply for Bratislava. Slovnaft would thus be able to supply a quarter of Bratislava with heat produced from non-fossil fuels. By replacing natural gas, it will save approximately 70 thousand tonnes of CO₂ per year, according to the company.

Slovnaft denies rumours of importing waste from Hungary, the company emphasises that CEZO will handle local waste only. The project aligns with Slovakia’s EU commitments to reduce landfill use to 10 per cent by 2035 and enhances industrial waste management. Replacing a 1970s sludge incinerator, CEZO is set for completion by 2030.