Prague, 29 October 2007 – UNIPETROL RPA is preparing measures to enable the operation of the ethylene unit without the PA 701 with partial hydrogen supplies from the partial oxidation (POX) unit. The operating modifications and testing of the retrofitted plant and equipment of the ethylene unit will continue throughout this week. The ethylene unit will probably start production between 6 and 7 November 2007. Until the PA 701 is repaired, the ethylene unit should operate at a limited capacity (70 to 80 percent of its maximum capacity).
Due to a field burner accident, other units of Unipetrol RPA, which had already started operation after the shutdown, had to be shut down again in addition to the POX unit. The POX unit produces hydrogen, which is indispensable for the operation of the above units. The said units should start operation immediately after POX start-up. UNIPETROL expects to commission the POX unit probably by 8 November 2007.
While we are exerting maximum efforts to minimise the impact on business relations with our customers, the supplies of goods from Unipetrol RPA may be limited.
A shutdown took place in Česká rafinérská’s Litvínov facility concurrently with the Unipetrol RPA shutdown. After 39 days Česká rafinérská started to operate. Due to damage to Unipetrol RPA’s POX unit, the motor fuels could not be produced. The production of asphalts and semiproducts of primary crude processing were put in the storage areas or transferred for further processing to Kralupy nad Vltavou refinery.
Česká rafinérská is adopting measures in order to commence the production of motor fuel as soon as possible regardless of the availability of hydrogen from standard sources. The result of this process organisation activity is the start of production at the catalytic reforming unit (CCR) and subsequently at other units using external materials in order to enable the production of commercial quality of automotive gasoline from the 1st of November 2007 and the diesel fuel from the 3rd of November 2007, thus renewing the output of the Litvínov refinery’s chief products.
The hydro-crack unit remains shut down due to the implementation of an investment project aimed at its update and the increase of its capacity. Once the works are completed, the commencement of its operation should take place alongside the POX unit that provides the hydrogen supply. The Kralupy refinery continues with operations and has produced motor fuels as planned during the entire shutdown. After setting POX unit into operation, Česká rafinérská will be operating in planned full kapacity.
Unipetrol RPA has been undergoing the historically longer planned shutdown aimed at regular maintenance, process equipment update and production capacity increase since September.
In the past, UNIPETROL companies used shutdowns once a year, then once every two years and later once every three years. In 2005 it was decided to switch to a four-year shutdown cycle that is better for both the producer and the customers (Česká rafinérská is holding its once-in-four-years shutdown for the second time this year). Thus, the next shutdown is planned for 2011.
UNIPETROL 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 recorded revenues amounting to CZK 95 billion and a net profit of CZK 1.6 billion. UNIPETROL employs approximately 4,000 people.
Contact:
Michaela Lagronová
Spokesperson
Unipetrol, a.s.
GSM: +420 602 304 708
E-mail: michaela.lagronova@unipetrol.cz