Prague, November 7, 2017 – In 2017, Unipetrol, the Czech Republic’s largest refining and petrochemical group, provided a financial support of CZK 2.2 million to 20 municipalities and towns located in the vicinity of both refineries in Záluží u Litvínova and in Kralupy nad Vltavou. Unipetrol thereby contributes to the development of infrastructure, culture, sports, tourism, health, and social life in the regions where the company operates.
„We try to be a good and responsible neighbour. A company which not only gives people work but also contributes to the development of the surrounding environment and helps the good things come into life. We’re glad that Unipetrol is one of the reasons the community life in the vicinity of our production facilities is more varied and more interesting,“ says Tomáš Herink, Member of Unipetrol’s Board of Directors responsible for investment, research, and education.
The municipalities use the donated funds primarily for social and culture events, to support sports clubs, playgrounds, and fire brigades. The financial support applies also to things like reconstructions or renovations of common areas. Unipetrol’s financial support helped, for instance, to renovate and re-open the Cultural Hall in Brandov. In Meziboří, they improved skiing conditions. The town used the donated money to equip its ski area with new machinery. The slope will be better-tended, there will be more artificial snow making the ride overall safer. In cooperation with the local fishermen, Unipetrol finances the regular fish planting into the Bílina and Elbe Rivers. Together with Alka Wildlife, it cares about peregrine falcons nesting in the production plants in Litvínov, Kralupy, and Neratovice.
In Kralupy nad Vltavou, Unipetrol cooperates with Ingeborg Vokálová, a medical doctor, who founded the Alergie o.p.s. (Allergy CSO). It focuses on medical treatment programmes and stays, or special pre-school education for sick children. It also organizes trainings for parents of asthmatics and children with eczema. „The children from Kralupy who are suffering from allergies will receive new inhalers, air purifiers, and other healthcare supplies,“ says Anna Wydrzyńska, Head of Rafinérie, o.z. (Refinery, Registered Branch) in the Unipetrol Group.
The Unipetrol Group employs over 4,500 people in the Czech Republic. These employees too are actively involved in the environmental care. Every year, they organize an employee collection called Fulfilled Wishes – its proceeds are applied to support of non-profit organizations. Moreover, the employees then help in these organizations during regular volunteer days. As part of annual volunteer days they for instance clean the river banks in the Most Region or clean in the Children’s Home in Kralupy nad Vltavou. „This year’s volunteer work was extended to the castle garden in Veltrusy. Given the vastness of the area, the cleaning and gardening works never end here,” adds Anna Wydrzyńska.
Unipetrol also supports a number of secondary schools and the University of Chemistry and Techology, Prague. This year, it established the Unipetrol Foundation through which it provides financial support to secondary school and university students. In mid-October, the Foundation distributed CZK 1.5 million among 40 secondary school and university students. Yet more money is already prepared for secondary schools to equip their classrooms and laboratories and to support their study projects.