Orlen, the state-controlled Polish oil giant, has decided to suspend its membership in the Polska Organizacja Przemysłu i Handlu Naftowego (POPiHN), the country’s main oil industry trade body. The move follows a sharp disagreement over the government’s new windfall tax on fuel companies, which the organisation publicly opposed.
According to Business Insider Polska, tensions had been building for months, but the final straw was POPiHN’s vocal criticism of the tax bill passed by the Sejm on 19 June 2026. The tax, officially called the “podatek od nadzwyczajnych zysków” (windfall tax), is designed to capture excess profits generated by fuel producers and importers since March 2026, when margins surged amid instability in the Middle East.
The new levy is set at 60% on revenues exceeding a reference margin – defined as the average 2025 margin plus 20%. The government expects to raise around 4 billion złoty, which will be used to finance the CPN (Ceny Paliwa Niżej) programme aimed at lowering fuel prices for consumers. Orlen, as the dominant player, would bear an estimated 60% of the tax burden, with other companies accounting for the remaining 40%.
The windfall tax controversy
POPiHN issued a strongly worded statement opposing the tax, arguing that it was purely fiscal in nature and would harm the sector responsible for Poland’s fuel security. – Państwo ma prawo poszukiwać dodatkowych dochodów. Trudno jednak zaakceptować, że cel fiskalny realizowany jest kosztem sektora odpowiedzialnego za bezpieczeństwo paliwowe kraju – the organisation wrote last week. The statement went on to describe the windfall tax as a short-sighted solution that could undermine supply continuity, reduce investment, and hurt the competitiveness of the Polish economy.
Orlen’s management reportedly took issue not with the organisation’s right to comment, but with the manner in which it engaged in the legislative process. The company decided to suspend its membership, and an outright withdrawal from POPiHN is now a possibility, insiders told Business Insider Polska.
A rift within the industry
The dispute highlights a growing divide between the state-owned fuel champion and the rest of the industry. POPiHN represents key players on the Polish fuel market, including importers, refiners, and distributors. By distancing itself from the organisation, Orlen risks isolating itself from industry-wide discussions on regulation, security of supply, and market development.
Observers note that the windfall tax was a political response to public anger over rising fuel prices, but its implementation could have unintended consequences. Smaller companies may struggle to absorb the 60% levy, while Orlen’s dominant position means it will shoulder the largest share. The company’s next move – whether to remain a member of POPiHN or leave altogether – will be closely watched by both the government and the market.
Źródło: WNP.PL (wnp.pl), Fot. Karolis Kavolelis / Shutterstock
