The refining and petrochemical ORLEN Unipetrol Group, the only crude oil processing company and fuel manufacturer in the Czech Republic, is celebrating 20 years of affiliation with the international ORLEN Group, the largest capital company in Central and Eastern Europe. During this period, the ORLEN Group established a successful refining and petrochemical business in the Czech Republic, which is active in various industries and significantly contributes to maintaining stability and driving development in the Czech industry and economy. Over the 20 years of its activities in Czechia, the Group has invested more than CZK 121 billion and become a leader in the Czech market of filling stations, as well as a significant employer and supporter of education.

The respective contract between PKN ORLEN, the National Property Fund, and the Czech Consolidation Agency regarding the sale of the state’s 63% majority stake in the petrochemical group Unipetrol to PKN Orlen was signed on 4 June 2004. The European Commission gave the go-ahead to the proposed takeover of Unipetrol by PKN ORLEN in the following year, in line with EU Regulation on mergers. The privatisation process at Unipetrol was completed, and Unipetrol became a significant part of the largest refining and petrochemical group in Central Europe.

In the following years, the ORLEN Unipetrol Group consolidated the refining segment by gradually acquiring shareholder stakes in individual refining companies in Czechia and integrating them within a single company, ORLEN Unipetrol RPA. The integration process culminated in 2018 when the ORLEN Group became the sole owner of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group.

“Unipetrol is one of the key companies within the ORLEN Group. Our long-standing commitment demonstrates that, with consistency and strong partnerships, we can not only achieve our business goals but also bring tangible benefits to the Czech economy and the broader region. Over the past two decades, we have invested more than PLN 20 billion into Unipetrol. We have built a company that is ready to meet market challenges and ensure secure fuel supplies. We intend to consistently strengthen Unipetrol’s position and expand into new areas,” said Ireneusz Fąfara, CEO and President of the Management Board of ORLEN.

Today, the ORLEN Unipetrol Group comprises refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Pardubice-based Paramo, Spolana in Neratovice, Otrokovice-based REMAQ, research centre in Brno, logistics companies ORLEN Unipetrol Doprava and PETROTRANS, and the engineering and project company ORLEN Projekt. The Group is also the majority owner of the HC VERVA Litvínov ice hockey club, which became the ice hockey champion of the Czech Republic in 2015.

“During 20 years, the ORLEN Unipetrol Group has become a strong player in the domestic and European markets, an attractive employer, and an innovating leader, which is a good and considerate neighbour in the locations of its manufacturing operations, a responsible partner of the Czech state, and one of the pillars of its economy,” says Mariusz Wnuk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group, adding: “We are fully aware of our role and are ready to continue fulfilling it, not only in prosperity but also amid a complicated geopolitical and macroeconomic situation.”

ORLEN Unipetrol also includes a network of ORLEN filling stations in Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary. With 441 stations and a 28.1% market share in fuel sales in Czechia, it is a market leader and a significant innovator. When ORLEN entered the ORLEN Unipetrol Group in 2005, the network consisted of 305 sites and held an 11% market share in the Czech Republic. ORLEN invested dozens of billions of korunas in modernising the retail network and introduced the Stop Café concept in Czechia in 2010. The innovated Stop Cafe version was presented in 2016, featuring expanded relaxation zones and a broad selection of fresh meals prepared on-site. Today, Stop Cafe is available at 358 filling stations. The premium VERVA fuels were introduced in 2006. In 2017, the ORLEN network launched new fuels with a cleaning effect, EFECTA DIESEL and EFECTA 95. The unique payment and loyalty mobile app for customers, ORLEN, was launched in 2020.

The ORLEN network entered the Slovak market in 2019 and the Hungarian market in 2022. Currently, it operates 97 sites in Slovakia and 139 stations in Hungary. It is one of the fastest-growing networks with significant growth potential in both markets. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group’s extensive expertise in the retail segment led to a substantial expansion of competencies in 2025. Besides operating ORLEN filling stations in Hungary and Slovakia, Czech ORLEN Unipetrol became a competence centre for developing convenience sales across the entire ORLEN network, comprising more than 3,500 sites in seven countries.

When operating under the international ORLEN Group, the ORLEN Unipetrol Group has invested over CZK 121 billion in Czechia. The most significant investment is the construction of a new unit producing modern high-density polyethylene in Litvínov for nearly CZK 10 billion, which was commissioned in 2020. The unit that produces fluid hydrocarbon dicyclopentadiene is also a significant investment. The unique process of isolating and distilling dicyclopentadiene was developed by researchers from the ORLEN Unipetrol Group in collaboration with the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague. Thus, ORLEN Unipetrol became a significant supplier of this in-demand commodity with a high margin for the European market, as it covers 20% of the production capacity in Europe.

Significant investments were also made in the continuous modernisation of all production units within the entire Group and their gradual transformation towards a low- or zero-emission future. These investments also include long-term investments in environmental protection and support. In line with the broader Group’s strategy, ORLEN Unipetrol aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. By 2030, it plans to cut its emissions by 25% compared to 2019. This effort is supported by investments CZK 35 billion in decarbonisation, higher energy efficiency, emphasis on renewables, plastic recycling, advanced biofuels and digitalisation.

ORLEN Unipetrol is one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic in terms of a turnover and employs over 5,400 people. The company had more than 7,200 employees in 2005. ORLEN Unipetrol is a significant supporter of education, social life, sports, community development, and environmental protection. In collaboration with the University of Chemistry and Technology, the company established the University Centre at its production site in Záluží near Litvínov in 2015. There, it offers study programmes directly on the production site. It is a unique project in Czechia combining a state university with the expertise of an industrial enterprise. The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the Czech Technical University joined the project in 2022. The Group’s CSR activities have been associated under the ORLEN Unipetrol Foundation since 2016. The Foundation soon became a significant entity supporting secondary and university education and promoting chemistry and other natural sciences.

The ORLEN Unipetrol Group has received numerous awards and recognitions for its production activities, innovations, and employee care. For instance, it was awarded for the technological advancement for its DCPD unit in Litvínov, which was recognised as the Best Technical Structure of 2022. The team of scientists which designed the unique production procedure received the Engineering Academy’s award (2024) for developing and implementing this technology. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group has consistently held top positions among the best employers in Czechia. It was certified as the Top Employer (2023–2025), awarded as the Pluxee Employer of the Year 2024 and became one of the TOP Employers 2024. The popularity of the ORLEN brand among Czech consumers is attested to by the fact that the network of ORLEN filling stations has been awarded the Most Trustworthy Brand in the Czech Republic six times and Merchant of the Year three times.

The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the largest refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on crude oil processing and the production, distribution and sale of vehicle fuels and petrochemical products – particularly plastics and fertilisers. It belongs among the key players on the Czech and Central European markets in all these areas. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group encompasses refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo in Pardubice, Spolana in Neratovice, REMAQ in Otrokovice, research centre in Brno, logistics companies ORLEN Unipetrol Doprava and PETROTRANS, and the engineering and project company ORLEN Projekt. The Group is also the majority owner of the HC VERVA Litvínov ice hockey club, which became the ice hockey champion of the Czech Republic in 2015. ORLEN Unipetrol also includes the ORLEN network of filling stations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. ORLEN Unipetrol is one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic in terms of turnover. It employs over 5,000 people. ORLEN Unipetrol is also a socially responsible company, particularly in the areas of supporting sustainable development, education, local communities and the environment. Its quality employee care is attested to by the prestigious Top Employer certificate which the Group received in 2023 and 2024 and by a host of national accolades. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became part of the ORLEN Group, the largest energy company in Central Europe.

Contact details: Pavel Kaidl, spokesperson, tel.: +420 736 502 520, email: pavel.kaidl@orlenunipetrol.cz

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