November 24, 2023
Member of Parliament Rasmus Horn Langhoff (S) visited Kalundborg Refinery
There are many good visions and a great local potential to contribute to the green transition. These were the words of Rasmus Horn Langhoff (Social Democrat – S) when he visited Denmark’s largest refinery – Kalundborg Refinery – on Monday.
What does the future of the refinery look like? This very question was the focal point of the local elective Member of Parliament and Chairman of Climate, Energy and Utilities Committee, Rasmus Horn Langhoff (S), as he visited Kalundborg Refinery on Monday.
As the country’s largest refinery, Kalundborg Refinery is crucial for Denmark’s security of supply and mobility.
”Kalundborg Refinery is a major player when it comes to energy production in Denmark. Therefore, it is exciting to see the potential of the refinery to contribute to the green transition and at the same time ensure Denmark’s continued mobility and security of supply. Kalundborg Refinery – and the town of Kalundborg in general – can really push the green transition, especially as part of the symbiosis,” Rasmus Horn Langhoff stated. He was accompanied by a municipal councilor at Kalundborg municipality, Esben Hansen (Social Democrat – S).
”It is fascinating that we can be part of the transition locally – not just on a small scale, but on a large scale. That is what it is; Large-scale. And it works well with the things, we are working on at a municipality level,” Esben Hansen added.
Like the rest of society, the refinery in Kalundborg looks into a future where fossil fuels are being replaced by renewable alternatives – and here Kalundborg Refinery can play a key role, Niels Bech, Director Business Development at Kalundborg Refinery, said during Monday’s visit:
”We have the size, the know-how, and the critical infrastructure. In the future, the refinery in Kalundborg could play a key role as a supplier of green fuels. But it requires the right political framework to address the commercial and technical risks currently associated with these projects,” he elaborated.
Upcoming negotiations on green aviation
As part of the visit Rasmus Horn Langhoff and Esben Hansen got a tour around the 1,2 square kilometers production plant in Kalundborg. Today, the refinery handles different hydrocarbons and would as well handle sustainably produced fuels, like synthetic or low aromatic aviation fuels, in the future.
In this connection Niels Bech explained that the climate impact of airplanes does not only come for burning the jet fuel, but as well from the contrails formed due to soot particles in the aviation exhaust system. These can be reduced significantly and relatively simply by modifying conventional fuels, which could be an interim step, immediately available. Kalundborg Refinery could also be part of this solution:
”We have the facilities, technologies, competences, capacity, distribution channels and – not to forget – a safe and environmental justifiable production. In the future we could produce low aromatic aviation fuel, that could positively contribute to the government’s climate ambitions within the Danish aviation industry,” Niels Bech emphasized with support from Rasmus Horn Langhoff:
”Ambitions of greener aviation fuel production at the refinery in Kalundborg can easily be a part of the upcoming negotiations on greener aviation in Denmark. It fits well with my and the government’s visions as well as the needs of Denmark – now and in the future.”
The refinery in Kalundborg is Denmark’s largest and process upwards of 5.5 million tons crude oil, condensate and feedstock every year. The refinery produces propane, naphtha, gasoline, diesel, fuel oil and fertilizer.
