The author of article have suggested that the company Unipetrol stopped investments in refineries within previous years. The truth is, that within years of 2006 - 2011, Unipetrol have spent on investments in to Ceska rafinerska total sum of 4 billion CZK.
The article also stated that after the takeover of Czech refineries by PKN Orlen fuel quality has dropped near to the limits of standards. The largest network of filling stations in the Czech Republic, the Benzina company, the purchaser of fuel from the Ceska rafinerska, has no problems with the quality of fuels distributed. ČOI, which is tasked with monitoring of state of fuel quality in the Czech Republic does not detect deviations from the quality defined by the European quality standards, within Benzina fuels stations in the long term. Benzina also works in a voluntary “Seal of quality” control system. This strict system of care for the quality of fuel conducts regular ainspections of quality beyond state supervision. The 99.7% of inspections are free from defects. Collection of premium fuel with added value quality offered by Benzina is also very much appreciated both within the independent expert test and drivers themselves.
The author connects the current negative profitability of the company with the decision to privatize Unipetrol in 2005. On the other hand completely ignores the factors that have a major impact on the company's results, such as unfavorable situation within macro environment, recession of the domestic economy, overproduction of refining capacity in Europe, increasing competition in the Middle East or negative development in refining margins, which have declined significantly since 2009.
The article refers about PKN Orlen as a half owned by Polish state. PKN Orlen is in fact, a company publicly traded on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. State share of capital in PKN Orlen reaches 28%.
In relation with above mentioned and the overall tone of the article, we consider clearly tendentious, Unipetrol regards published text as misconduct of Idnes.cz, resulting in damage to the reputation of Unipetrol and PKN Orlen. Unipetrol will take necessary steps to ensure that the situation will be corrected from side of Idnes.cz.
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:
Mikuláš Duda
Press Department Manager
Telephone: +420 225 001 407, +420 736 502 520
E-mail: mikulas.duda@unipetrol.cz