Orlen has signed an agreement with Norwegian Equinor for the purchase of crude oil from the Johan Sverdrup field on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The contract is valid from September 2026 for three years and provides for annual deliveries of between 5 and over 9 million tonnes of crude. This is the equivalent of up to one-quarter of Orlen’s annual demand for oil.
Equinor is a Norwegian state-owned energy company headquartered in Stavanger, founded in 1972 as Statoil. Johan Sverdrup is the largest oil field on the Norwegian Continental Shelf in terms of production and constitutes a key element of European supply security. The field is also characterized by high energy efficiency and significantly lower CO₂ emissions compared with the global average, mainly due to its power supply from shore. The agreement also allows for deliveries of other grades of oil produced on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Orlen points out that amid persistent volatility on global oil markets and geopolitical tensions affecting the safety of transport routes, the importance of long-term contracts from predictable sources of supply is growing. Norway plays a key role as a stable supplier of raw materials for Poland and Europe.
– This agreement is yet another example of how energy from the Norwegian continental shelf contributes to security of supply for Europe. We are very pleased to be able to strengthen our relationship with Orlen through this agreement for the sale of oil to their refineries in Poland, Lithuania and the Czech Republic – Irene Rummelhoff, Executive Vice President for Marketing, Midstream and Processing at Equinor.
Johan Sverdrup as a key source
– A secure future begins with decisions made ahead of time. That is why we are strengthening the Orlen Group’s access to stable sources of crude oil from Norway, which can supply up to one-quarter of our annual demand. Equinor is a reliable partner with whom we are building a relationship based on shared responsibility for the region’s energy security. This agreement is a concrete response to global market instability and proof that the resilience of the energy sector is built through long-term cooperation with partners ensuring predictable supplies and operational reliability – Ireneusz Fąfara, President of the Management Board of Orlen.
The oil supply agreement with Equinor is part of Orlen’s wider cooperation with the Norwegian partner, also covering natural gas and low-emission solutions. Equinor is developing Baltic offshore wind farm projects in Poland together with Polenergia. Supplies from Norway are part of Orlen’s strategy, which aims to strengthen energy security not only in Poland but also throughout the region by diversifying supply sources and cooperating with stable partners.
Orlen did not disclose the detailed commercial terms of the agreement, as they are subject to confidentiality between the parties. It is known, however, that the contract is to secure oil supplies for Orlen’s refineries in Poland, Lithuania and the Czech Republic. The agreement enters into force on September 1, 2026 and will be valid for three years.
Norway remains one of Poland’s key energy partners, and Johan Sverdrup is the largest oil field on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Orlen’s cooperation with Equinor also covers other areas, including natural gas and offshore wind projects. For Orlen, securing supplies from Norway is part of a strategy to diversify oil sources, aimed at increasing resilience to market fluctuations and geopolitical tensions.
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