Petrol Ofisi Group and the Energy of the Future

Reporting: Gamze Ünal

In our interview, we spoke with Sezgin Gürsu, Mineral Oils Director of Petrol Ofisi Group, about leadership, innovation and sustainability in the energy sector. Thanks to special formulations developed at the R&D centre POTEM, Petrol Ofisi offers a broad product portfolio ranging from electric vehicles to the maritime sector and is also drawing attention with green energy investments.

First, could you briefly introduce yourself and your role at Petrol Ofisi Group? How would you define the company's position in Turkey's energy sector?
I am Sezgin Gürsu, with approximately 30 years of experience in various positions in the mineral oils and petroleum products sectors. I joined Petrol Ofisi Group in 2007, where I served as Commercial Sales Director and Retail Director, and have been serving as Mineral Oils Director of Petrol Ofisi Group since 2018.

As Petrol Ofisi, we are the leader in the petroleum products, mineral oils and chemicals market and one of Turkey's largest energy infrastructure groups. We own the country's largest network of petroleum stations with over 2,700 locations and with turnover of TRY 458 billion in 2024, we rank among Turkey's top 5 private companies. Beyond being merely a petroleum products distribution company, we are an integrated group meeting all fuel needs of air, sea and land vehicles, with 1.5 million cubic metres of storage capacity, 18 airport supply units and a 230,000-tonne mineral oils production facility. This year, by taking over BP Petroleum's petroleum products and terminal operations in Turkey, we not only expanded our service network but also signed a powerful merger that will shape the future of the sector.

According to data from the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK), as of 2024 we carried our traditional leadership into its 17th year with a market share of 21.43% in the petroleum products market. According to the latest data from the Turkish Petroleum Industry Association (PETDER), with total domestic sales of 140,417 tonnes in the mineral oils and chemicals market in 2024, we maintained our leadership in its 15th year with approximately 30% market share.

Could you provide information about Petrol Ofisi Group's production capacity and domestic sales figures? What can you also tell us about your export figures to 33 countries across 4 continents and your position in the international market?
Once our ongoing investment projects at our Derince facility in Kocaeli are completed, with a production volume of 220,000 tonnes we will rank among the top 10 factories globally. Thanks to this capacity increase, we are reaching a level where we can supply nearly half of Turkey's annual mineral oils requirement of approximately 500,000 tonnes on our own. With over 400 product formulations, we offer a broad product range meeting the needs of all vehicles, including electric vehicles, and industrial sectors. 99% of our products are manufactured at this factory. We also hold a strong position in the international market. Through the Turquality programme, we promote our brand abroad. Through this facility, we export to 33 countries across 4 continents in the 40-million-tonne global mineral oils market and also provide Turkey with approximately USD 50 million in annual foreign exchange earnings. Particularly in Europe and nearby geographies, as well as in extremely cold countries like Kazakhstan and high-temperature markets like Iraq and Libya, our special formulations developed at POTEM provide sustainable competitive advantage.

Petrol Ofisi Group has Turkey's largest network of petroleum stations and is also a leader in the mineral oils sector. What are the core strategies that sustain this success? Could you discuss recent innovations and technology investments that stand out in the sector?
Both owning Turkey's largest network of petroleum stations and maintaining our long-standing leadership in the mineral oils sector is based on a structure that strategically reinforces itself and is grounded in sustainability. Our stations spread nationwide and our integrated logistics network allow us to provide seamless and fast service to our customers on both the petroleum products and mineral oils sides. In the mineral oils sector, the centre of our success lies in our investments in innovation and technology. Petrol Ofisi Technology Centre (POTEM) stands out among these investments. At POTEM, registered as an R&D centre by the Ministry of Industry and Technology this year, we provide R&D, quality control and analysis services to all areas of industry and automotive sectors, agriculture, public institutions and numerous domestic and foreign companies including global giants. POTEM, with an annual test capacity of 150,000 and strong R&D infrastructure, is key to developing innovative products for both domestic and international markets.

For example, Maxima and Maximus oils produced with Adaptech technology stand out in the sector with their energy efficiency and environmentally friendly properties. Additionally, our collaborations with global brands such as Chevron and Texaco and our partnerships with OEMs like ISUZU, KIA, Subaru, Hidromek and Volvo to develop "tailor-made" solutions and special formulations not only reinforce our product quality and reliability but also further differentiate us in the sector. In addition to these products, we have launched cooling fluid, gear oil and grease for electric vehicles and made our products ready for sale. We have planned two more important launches this year: we are expanding our special oil product line for motorcycles, which number close to 6 million in Turkey, and increasing our expertise in this area through direct contact with sector professionals.

We have also accelerated our digital transformation investments in the sector. Through the POLAB portal, we have fully digitized oil analysis processes, providing our customers with QR-coded tracking, real-time reporting and maintenance optimization through big data analytics. Additionally, with solutions such as the "First Eye" application, "Talking Station" and National Vehicle Recognition System (UTTS) integration, we are combining customer experience with technology.

Petrol Ofisi Group has 2030 and 2050 sustainability and environment targets. Could you provide information about the projects you are carrying out and the measures you are taking to reach these targets?
We meet one-third of the energy needs of our mineral oils factory in Derince, Kocaeli with 2,074 solar panels and plan to increase this ratio to two-thirds through new investments. Our s-POwer project generates energy from solar at 13 of our stations, preventing 800 tonnes of carbon emissions annually and transferring excess energy to the grid. With our e-POwer initiative, we support our electric vehicle charging infrastructure with solar energy, thereby promoting environmentally friendly mobility. In our product development processes, our work using 25% recycled plastic in Maxima packaging and our Maxima Hybrid motor oil series earned us the "Carbon Champion" award. Since 2022, we have supplied sustainable aviation fuel Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel™ (SAF) to aircraft operated by leading Turkish airlines, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%. Besides these, with our PO/Marine brand where we are leaders in the maritime sector, we supply new-generation maritime fuels Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) and Ultra Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (ULSFO) under IMO 2020 criteria. In summary, we are reducing our environmental impact by developing low-carbon solutions in the air, at sea and on land.

What new projects and investments await Petrol Ofisi Group in the near future both in Turkey and in international markets? How are you preparing for the sector's transformation?
In the coming period, we will pursue a growth strategy focused on next-generation energy solutions, digitalization and sustainability in both Turkey and international markets. We are focusing on expanding our product development activities that reduce emissions and growing our environmentally friendly and energy-efficient product portfolio. While continuing our growth domestically, logistics and production investments to increase our export volume are also on our agenda. On the other hand, we will continue to transform customer experience end-to-end from our digital infrastructure to logistics management and product diversity.