MOL Group has announced plans to significantly expand its renewable gas operations in Hungary through the construction of a new biomethane production unit at its Szarvas facility. The investment will allow renewable gas produced at the site to be injected directly into Hungary’s national gas transmission network, strengthening the country’s transition toward cleaner energy solutions.
The company expects the new installation to enter commercial operation by the end of 2026. Once completed, the facility is projected to produce more than 7 million cubic meters of biomethane annually, enough to supply the yearly natural gas demand of approximately 8,500 households. According to MOL, the development will represent the group’s first biomethane production project and only the third operational biomethane plant currently active in Hungary.
The existing Szarvas facility already converts large volumes of organic waste into biogas using materials such as manure, slurry, agricultural residues and waste from the food-processing industry. Under the planned expansion, the produced biogas will undergo additional upgrading processes designed to remove carbon dioxide and other impurities, converting it into grid-quality biomethane suitable for injection into the national gas infrastructure.
MOL acquired the Szarvas site in 2023 as part of its broader strategy focused on renewable energy and circular economy solutions. The facility currently operates gas engines with installed generation capacity of around 4 MW and produces nearly 24 GWh of electricity annually.
The company stated that the plant processes substantial quantities of organic waste each year, including more than 40,000 tons originating from regional meat production, approximately 53,000 tons of livestock and meat-processing by-products, as well as roughly 18,000 tons of agricultural raw materials. These feedstocks currently generate close to 12 million cubic meters of biogas per year.
MOL added that the operational experience gained through the Szarvas biomethane project will support the company in evaluating future acquisitions and potential greenfield investments within the rapidly expanding renewable gas sector.
