Zagreb, 9 July 2025 – INA has signed a contract with an international consortium led by companies Lamor and Litoclean to implement a seabed remediation project that marks the beginning of the construction of a hydraulic barrier beneath the Rijeka Refinery. The project, valued at EUR 6 million, will be implemented in three phases over a two-year period and operated from that on. Completion of works and full implementation of the solution is expected in 2027.
The implementation of this project is another important step in INA’s continued efforts to identify a long-term solution for the remediation of historical pollution in the karst terrain under the Rijeka Refinery. The project brings together a team of top experts from INA and globally renowned companies.
The hydraulic barrier with depressions will consist of a series of boreholes drilled along the shoreline beneath the Rijeka Refinery on the Urinj peninsula. These boreholes will create an artificial underground depression – the lowest point in the subsurface – which will allow for controlled fluid collection and prevent migration towards the sea. This approach forms the foundation of the entire marine protection program.
In the first phase, the international consortium will drill five pilot boreholes and carry out detailed fluid movement analyses. The second phase will include construction of the remaining boreholes and the design and redaction of the hydraulic barrier project, while the third phase will involve the installation of the necessary equipment and commencement of the extraction process. The full project is expected to be completed over a two-year period, with full implementation anticipated in 2027, providing a permanent solution to historical pollution at the site.
“Our expert team visited two similar projects in refineries located in Spain, that faced similar challenges. One of these refineries is still operational, while the other is decommissioned, but both continued to experience leakage due to historical contamination. In both cases, this solution has delivered satisfactory results, which gives us confidence it will be successfully implemented at the Rijeka Refinery as well”, said Bojan Lončar, Maintenance Manager Rijeka at INA.
In parallel with the development of a permanent solution, INA is implementing several short- and medium-term measures aimed at protecting the sea and preventing active leakage. Currently, 33 boreholes are operational, and an additional 40 are planned for drilling by the end of this year and next. Each borehole has a clearly defined role – those used for hydrocarbon extraction remain active and direct their contents to treatment, while boreholes containing water are used for monitoring to ensure nothing reaches the sea.
The geologically complex terrain beneath the refinery, which has been historically contaminated over decades, is further destabilized by natural phenomena such as earthquakes and extreme tides. To mitigate these impacts, INA has installed ocean barriers that adapt to tidal changes, and the permitting process for their installation is currently underway. In addition, all extracted subsurface materials are analysed daily in a laboratory to distinguish between historical and new contamination. All activities are monitored by both INA experts and independent specialists.
“We are fully aware of the issue, the subsurface is contaminated and there are hydrocarbons present. INA is deeply committed to addressing this and finding a permanent solution is one of our top priorities. We have coexisted with the local community for decades and our goal is to ensure that the refinery continues to operate – but in a more sustainable way. This is one of the key challenges of our generation, and I am confident we will overcome it”, added Goran Pleše, Operating Director of Refining and Marketing at INA.
Lamor and Litoclean are among the world’s leading companies in the field of environmental protection, specializing in soil remediation, waste management, and the treatment of contaminated water. They provide innovative and tailored solutions for mitigating environmental risks – from oil spill response to plastic recycling and biological soil remediation. Their collaboration enables the effective implementation of advanced technologies in environmental protection on a global scale.
About INA Group
INA Group plays a leading role in the Croatian oil business and holds a significant position in the region in oil and gas exploration and production, oil refining, and distribution of oil and petroleum products. The company consists of several subsidiaries wholly or partially owned by INA, d.d. The Group is headquartered in Zagreb, Croatia. In the field of oil and gas exploration and production, INA currently operates in Croatia and Egypt. Oil refining takes place at the Rijeka Refinery, while the Sisak industrial site is being transformed into a hub for sustainable alternative activities. The regional retail network includes more than 500 service stations in Croatia and neighbouring countries. INA Group is a member of the MOL Group.
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