The fourth Maritime Education Programme got underway yesterday in Gdańsk. As part of the project, Year One students from Gdańsk junior schools will enjoy several hours of sailing on the waters of the Bay of Gdańsk, as well as in the Port Channel. Grupa LOTOS is a sponsor of the Programme.

"I do very much welcome support for the Maritime Education Programme, which gives young people the chance to experience a sailing adventure, and also builds their awareness of the beauty and value of the region in which they live," said Jowita Twardowska, Communication and CSR Director at Grupa LOTOS. "We attach great importance to education, especially environmental education on the protection and care of the Baltic Sea's biodiversity, which results from our Corporate Social Responsibility strategy." Thanks to the Programme, students are made more aware of the importance of ecology in the modern world.

Another essential part of the Maritime Education Programme is the ecology competition, which has 'Don't Waste Water!' as its theme this year. The competition is open to teams of 2-5 Junior and Secondary School students in Poland, and tasks them with making a short film about the sensible use of water. It is designed to make young people more sensitive to the natural environment in their region, particularly to issues affecting the Baltic Sea. The prize is a week-long cruise on the Bay of Gdańsk aboard the legendary General Zaruski's own ship! Additionally, the school of the winning team will be given sailing classes by Olympic champion Mateusz Kusznierewicz, the founder of the Programme.

Since 20120, the Maritime Education Programme has been run by the Gdańsk Foundation, at the request of the Mayor of Gdańsk.

LOTOS is vertically integrated oil entity focused on crude oil exploration and production, petroleum processing as well as commodities sales. The company is second largest entity in Poland (in terms of net sales revenues). It holds 34,1% stake in domestic wholesale fuel market. Moreover LOTOS leads in motor oil sales in Poland. Since June the 9th 2005 Grupa LOTOS S.A. is listed on Warsaw Stock Exchange. LOTOS throughout its business units located all over Europe (Poland, Norway, Lithuania) employs over 5000 people. 
  
LOTOS operates state-of-the-art refinery (located in Gdańsk), holding a suitable connection to “Druzhba” pipeline and Naftoport - Baltic Sea terminal network. In 2011, using hi-tech solutions e.g. Best Available Techniques (BAT), LOTOS finished comprehensive upgrade investment project (Programme 10+), which main goal was to boost refining capacity to 10.5 mtpa. Programme 10+ fruition was estimated on 1,5 billion Euro. Due to Programme 10+ LOTOS is able to enhance Polish, NW Europe and CEE energy security policy, especially in the range of stable fuel supplies.

On the upstream side LOTOS is present on the Baltic Sea, Norwegian Continental Shelf and onshore in Lithuania. In 2015 LOTOS plans to produce 1,2 mtpa of crude oil, coming form company’s own fields.        

LOTOS actively supports alternative sources of energy development, especially throughout its biofuels production unit, located in Silesia region as well as relevant international safety environment conferences promotion and arrangement. Apparently company carries out numerous up to date research projects concerning environmental issues, i.a. CO2 sequestration in empty oil fields in the Baltic Sea within Polish top technical universities staff support. 

All abovementioned key goals derived directly from company’s corporate strategy regarding years 2011-2015, which constitutes of pursuing innovative growth in the areas of crude exploration and production, petroleum processing as well as sales and trading of products meeting the most stringent quality standards, in a manner that is environmentally friendly, compliant with the energy security policy, guarantees full satisfaction of customers and ensures the ongoing development of employees and shareholders interest.