In an ambitious move to redefine its operations, Polish energy giant Orlen is collaborating with Microsoft to execute central Europe’s largest AI project. This strategic partnership, valued at $105 billion, aims to enhance cybersecurity, streamline operations, and bolster workforce efficiency through a new AI center that serves as an innovation hub.
This collaboration with Microsoft includes deploying Copilot licenses, cloud services, and establishing a hands-on training hub. The initiative is a cornerstone of Orlen’s digital transformation plan, envisioned to enhance energy security and operational efficiency across its vast network of over 200 companies.
Integrating 5G with AI is not new for Orlen. They have previously undertaken Industry 4.0 initiatives, including private 5G trials for industrial automation and cybersecurity, in collaboration with Siemens. This current project intensifies these efforts.
Located in Płock, Orlen is a key player in the central and eastern European energy sector. As the largest firm of its kind in the region and listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, Orlen manages a network that includes subsidiaries like Unipetrol in Czechia and Orlen Lietuva in Lithuania. The Polish state remains its largest shareholder.
With an annual revenue of approximately $81 billion and a workforce of 60,000, Orlen’s digital transformation plan, announced in early 2025, focuses on utilizing digital tools to secure affordable energy for Poland. Worth $105 billion, it is the most significant investment in the Polish energy sector to date.
Ireneusz Fąfara, Orlen’s CEO, commented: “Energy transformation is a challenge for the entire economy… We want to accelerate even further, which is why we are reaching for tools available on the market.”
Fąfara emphasized that AI integration would improve daily operations and free employees from repetitive tasks, better utilizing their skills. The partnership aims to streamline software, enhance cloud capabilities, and employ intelligent assistants to optimize tasks and recommend actions based on data analysis.
The AI project also plans to train numerous IT specialists annually. Robert Soszyński, Orlen’s VP of Operations, noted: “AI technologies will optimize cybersecurity across the group, improve work efficiency, and enhance synergies within our capital group.”
Microsoft Poland’s CEO, Iwona Szylar, remarked: “Implementing AI is a strategic decision… The era of organizations where humans and technology collaborate equally has begun.”
