HOLBORN Celebrates Major Construction Milestone at the GDP Plant in Hamburg

HOLBORN Europa Raffinerie hosted a ceremony to mark a key milestone in the construction of its new Green Diesel Production (GDP) Plant. The event celebrated the installation of the first four columns for the hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) unit which marked a crucial development and indicates both the project’s halfway point and another step forward into Holborn’s ongoing transformation path.

Held at the refinery’s site in Hamburg, the event brought together 70 participants including representatives from HOLBORN, MAIRE group, and the Polimex consortium. The attendees watched as a 19-meter column was craned into position, following which a signing of commemorative metal plaque ceremony took place.

The €500 million GDP Plant spans 32,200 m² of land which equals 4.5 football fields and will begin operations in 2027. The facility, subject to further investments, will potentially generate 220,000 tons of premium renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from used vegetable oils and residual plant derived feedstocks while using low carbon generated hydrogen. The project includes three essential parts which consist of a pretreatment unit, a Production Plant, and connecting lines to HOLBORN ‘s current facilities.

MAIRE’s subsidiary KT Kinetics Technology (KT) is the main contractor in charge of building the GDP. MAIRE is a leading technology and engineering group focused on advancing the Energy Transition. The Group provides Integrated E&C Solutions for the downstream market, and Sustainable Technology Solutions through its subsidiary NEXTCHEM, leveraging three business lines: Sustainable Fertilizers, Low-Carbon Energy Vectors, and Circular Solutions. The Group’s involvement demonstrates the GDP Plant will shape the future of refining.

Lars Bergmann, Managing Director of HOLBORN Europa Raffinerie, stated: “Today marks a special moment, a milestone in our company’s journey to a refinery of tomorrow. With the construction of our new Green Diesel/SAF production Plant, we are taking a decisive step toward a more sustainable future. This project symbolizes our shared conviction that innovation, responsibility, and economic success go hand in hand.”

Alessandro Bernini, CEO of MAIRE, added: “We are honoured to stand alongside HOLBORN at the official launch of this ambitious project, which represents a significant step in the positive transformation of the energy industry. Our Group, active in over fifty countries, is deeply committed to complex projects that advance decarbonization and apply cutting-edge technologies to reduce emissions. Germany remains a strategic pillar in our operations, and this project exemplifies our shared vision of delivering sustainable industrial progress through strong cooperation, innovation, and on-time execution.”

Mahmud Elasfer, MD of the Holborn Group, said: “The GDP is not only a milestone for Holborn but also for the wider Oilinvest network. It strengthens our integrated value chain and enhances our ability to deliver cleaner fuels across Europe. The collaboration between our refining and marketing entities ensures that innovation at the production level translates directly into sustainable, high-quality products for our customers.”

On this occasion, Dr. Abdullatif Merii, Chief Business Officer Oilinvest, stated: “The GDP Plant marks a major milestone in Oilinvest’ s strategy to strengthen the resilience and long-term competitiveness of our refining operations. It reflects our firm commitment to innovation and diversification; particularly towards a more sustainable and green future, through continued investment in advanced technologies that create lasting value across the Group.”

He added, “Equally, safety remains at the heart of everything we do. To date, we are proud to have achieved 517 days without a lost-time injury on site. Everyone deserves to return home safely to their families, and this milestone reflects the strong safety culture and unwavering commitment of all stakeholders, including our contractors KT, Polimex, their subcontractors, everyone working on site and the HER Management team, who continue to uphold the highest standards of safety and care.”

The Green Diesel Production Plant underlines HOLBORN ‘s dedication to developing a solid business framework which adapts to market changes while preserving operational stability and dependability. With a continued drive to innovation and strong industrial partnerships, HOLBORN provides energy solutions that support both present needs and future aspirations.