Polish oil giant the LOTOS Tank company has signed an agreement with the country's airport operator the Polish Airports State Enterprise (PPL) to build a jet fuel refuelling base at Warsaw Chopin Airport.
The agreement follows a MoU on co-operation between LOTOS and PPL, signed in January 2009 and the opening of another fuel refinery at Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport.
"We are delighted the agreement has been signed as it is a step forward in the process of diversifying fuel supplies to Chopin Airport and reducing prices. I am convinced that LOTOS Tank's decision will facilitate the development of our airport," says Michał Marzec, director of Warsaw Chopin Airport.
"Chopin Airport is the largest airport in Poland. It's only natural that as a manufacturer of high-quality jet fuel, closely cooperating withEurope's top fuel supplier, Statoil Aviation, we would like to establish a strong position on the Polish market," says Maciej Szozda, vice-president and commercial director of LOTOS Company. "The presence of LOTOS in Warsaw, confirmed in writing, will make theWarsaw airport more attractive for both airlines and passengers."
Some 5,000sqm has been made available for the development in an area close to the airport apron with access to a railway siding. Once completed, the LOTOS Tank facility will fuel supply to airlines flying from Chopin Airport.
"We expect to obtain the environmental approval for this project in the first quarter of 2011, after which we will be able to apply for a building permit," says Dariusz Falkiewicz, the president of LOTOS Tank. "We anticipate that with the base at Chopin Airport our annual fuel sales should reach 100,000m3."
The company is also a direct supplier of fuel to the airport in Wroclaw and, as of 1 January 2011, Rzeszow Airport. Around 80% of jet fuel produced by LOTOS is exported to Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and the Czech Republic, among other countries.
Last year Warsaw Chopin Airport announced it would develop a 10 hectare, 150,000sqm airport city zone, which will include conference and exhibition facilties, offices and sports and recreation areas.
