INA has completed the first phase of historical seabed contamination remediation in the Urinj area, marking a key milestone within a broader environmental and operational modernization program at the Rijeka Refinery. The initiative aims to address legacy challenges while strengthening long-term operational sustainability.
Established in 1883, the Rijeka Refinery has played a central role in the refining landscape of Croatia and the wider region. Over more than a century, the facility has undergone multiple modernization phases to adapt to evolving energy markets and increasingly stringent environmental standards.
Today, one of the country’s most significant industrial upgrade projects is underway. The program includes the construction of a new heavy residue processing unit, alongside upgrades to existing operational systems and supporting infrastructure. This transformation is designed to enhance operational efficiency and position the refinery among the most technologically advanced refining facilities in the region.
The first remediation phase was led by a consortium including Lamor and Litocrean, during which:
In the second phase, launched in January, work is focused on establishing a hydraulic barrier system composed of a series of wells installed along the coastline beneath the refinery site. The system is designed to ensure full control of subsurface fluid movement and prevent migration toward the sea, forming the foundation of a long-term marine environmental protection program.
“Remediating historical pollution under the complex geological conditions present in the Urinj area is an extremely demanding engineering undertaking,” said Bojan Lončar, Head of Maintenance Management at INA. “Our primary goal is to establish full control over fluid movement in the karst subsurface. Through the hydraulic barrier system, we will redirect flows to controlled collection points, permanently eliminating the risk of leakage into the sea.”
The third phase will include the installation of wastewater treatment equipment and the commencement of controlled pumping operations, paving the way for full operational deployment of the remediation system.
The €6 million project is expected to be completed by 2027, delivering a permanent solution to historical subsurface contamination at the refinery site.
In parallel with the long-term engineering solution, INA is implementing short- and medium-term protective measures, including the operation of 33 wells to extract residual hydrocarbons from karst formations, continuous marine monitoring, and the reinforcement of coastal protection systems.
This initiative represents more than environmental remediation; it signals a structural shift in how operational and environmental risks are managed within the refining sector. By establishing permanent control over subsurface fluid dynamics through a hydraulic barrier system, the project materially reduces the risk of marine leakage, reinforcing environmental stability along the Croatian coastline while safeguarding long-term operational continuity.
Beyond its technical scope, the project reflects a sustained commitment to responsible asset stewardship under increasingly rigorous environmental and regulatory expectations. It illustrates disciplined capital deployment designed to strengthen operational resilience, support energy security, and enhance the overall credibility of Croatia’s energy infrastructure within the regional landscape.
In this context, the initiative should not be regarded as a short-term corrective measure, but as a strategic investment that lays the groundwork for a safer, more efficient, and structurally more sustainable operating environment across the regional energy sector.
Source:
https://ceenergynews.com/oil-gas/ina-seabed-remediation-rijeka-refinery/
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