Polish authorities have detained five ORLEN managers under investigation for possible unjustified reductions in fuel prices

Five current and former managers of Polish oil company ORLEN were detained on Monday by Internal Security Agency officers, on the orders of a prosecutor from the Łódź branch. The individuals are being investigated over alleged unjustified reductions in petrol and diesel prices applied between August and November 2023.

Among those detained is a former member of ORLEN’s management board, who held the position from 2018 to 2024. The prosecutor’s office said the suspects had been charged and that the investigation, which began more than two years ago, is ongoing. The authorities are expected to provide further information after the procedures are completed.

The investigation concerns the period preceding Poland’s parliamentary elections, held on October 15, 2023. Although oil prices and European wholesale costs rose in September and early October, fuel prices reportedly fell in Poland. After the election, prices increased significantly, fueling suspicions of a possible link to the election campaign.

ORLEN is the largest industrial company in Central and Eastern Europe. The Polish state owns 49.9% of its shares, and the company reported revenue of approximately $73 billion in 2025.