Litvínov, 23 February 2011 – Polish President Bronisław Komorowski visited Unipetrol petrochemical plant which belongs to the ORLEN Group during its official visit to the Czech Republic.
“When ORLEN, five years ago, gained a share in the Czech corporation Unipetrol, it made ORLEN become one of the leaders in this field in the region. During this time, we have demonstrated that ORLEN is a strategic and trustworthy investor interested in the long-term development of Unipetrol and not merely in short-term profits. By reinforcing our position we are ready for further development and transformation of the firm into a modern, multi-energetic corporation,” saidJacek Krawiec, Chairman of the Board of PKN ORLEN and also Chairman of the Unipetrol Supervisory Board, during presentation of the plant to President Komorowski.
The Unipetrol refinery and petrochemical group forms a vital section of Czech industry. It is the largest oil processor, one of the most important plastics producers and also owns the largest network of filling stations in the Czech Republic. Since 2005 it has been part of PKN ORLEN Group.
“After Unipetrol became part of PKN ORLEN Group almost six years ago, the level of investments significantly rose as against the previous period. Over the course of the years 2005 – 2009 the overall CAPEX totalled around CZK 19 billion, which is more than a threefold increase against the years 2000 – 2004. Thanks to the active cooperation between ORLEN and Unipetrol the company’s value on the Prague Stock Exchange has grown by more than 40% in 2010. If we look at our investments in the Czech Republic in time terms, we can safely say that nothing strengthens international commercial relations more than common investment projects and harmonic economic cooperation,“ Jacek Krawiec summed up his presentation of the plant in Litvínov.
The Litvínov petrochemical plant supplies components used for production of packaging for the construction, motorisation and electrical industries and also in agriculture for the German, Austrian and Slovakian markets as well as for the Baltic States, the Ukraine and also the Polish market. It is one of the largest chemical plants in the Czech Republic and currently the 12 th largest producer of polymers in Europe.
Unipetrol Group has at its disposal:
• 3 refineries with annual productivity of 5.5 million tonnes of crude oil
• 3 polyolefin units with annual productivity of 595,000 tonnes
• a steam cracker with annual productivity of 544,000 tonnes
• more than 335 filling stations
• a wide range of transportation services
The volume of refinery and petrochemical production and employment of almost 4,000 people is an excellent illustration of the company’s position and significance for the Czech economy. Unipetrol is also an important partner for society in the region – it sponsors local schools, an ecology centre, an ice-hockey club, countless cultural events and social projects.
UNIPETROL, a.s. is a group of companies operating in the petrochemical industry in the Czech Republic. In 2005 UNIPETROL became a part of the PKN ORLEN Group, the largest oil processor in Central Europe. The UNIPETROL Group is oriented mostly towards oil processing, fuel distribution and petrochemical production. In all of these business areas the UNIPETROL Group is among the key players both in the Czech Republic and on the Central European market. The Group ranks among the leading firms in the Czech Republic in terms of its revenues, and employs almost 4,000 people.
Contact:
Bořek Konečný
Communication Specialist
Telephone: +420 225 001 670, +420 736 502 600
E-mail: borek.konecny@unipetrol.cz