Prague, 9th of November 2007 – The ethylene unit has resumed operation without its PA 701 heat exchange apparatus (the so-called cold box) and its operation will be limited to 70 to 80 per cent of its total capacity before the unit is repaired. The other units (e.g. Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Urea, Ammonium, OXO) are working to their full capacity or will reach their full capacity during tomorrow.
Simultaneously with the shutdown at Unipetrol RPA there was also a shutdown in the Litvínov part of Česká rafinérská. Subsequent to the resumption of hydrogen supplies from the POX unit Česká rafinérská could begin, in the last few days, a gradual start-up of the hydrocrack unit (cracking unit), the commissioning of which after the modernisation and capacity increase is planned for Tuesday 13 November. The start-up of the hydrocrack unit will have a favourable effect on diesel production. Česká rafinérská’s Kralupy refinery was in operation throughout the shutdown.
The purposes of this largest ever planned shutdown in Unipetrol RPA included regular maintenance, process equipment modernisation, and production capacity increase. Maintenance, operating, and capital investment work worth more than CZK 1.5 billion and involving more than 2,900 employees of supplier companies was carried out during the shutdown.
In the past shutdowns in the UNIPETROL Group’s companies took place once a year, later once every two and still later every three years. In 2005 the decision was made to introduce a four-year shutdown periodicity, which is more favourable for both producers and customers (at Česká rafinérská, this year’s shutdown was the second shutdown after a four-year interval). The next shutdown is therefore planned for 2011.
UNIPETROL, a.s. is a group of companies operating in the petrochemical industry in the Czech Republic. In 2005 UNIPETROL became part of the PKN ORLEN Group, the largest downstream oil company in Central Europe. UNIPETROL primarily focuses on crude oil processing, fuels distribution and petrochemical production. In all these areas UNIPETROL group is one of leading players in both the Czech and Central European markets. In 2006 UNIPETROL posted revenues amounting to CZK 95 billion and a net profit of CZK 1.6 billion. The UNIPETROL group employs approximately 4,000 people.
Contact:
Michaela Lagronová
Spokesperson
Unipetrol, a.s.
GSM: +420 602 304 708
E-mail: michaela.lagronova@unipetrol.cz