Prague, 5th of January 2007 - The shutdown of the FCC unit in Kralupy refinery of Česká Rafinérská, a.s. was announced on December 20, 2006. The length of the shutdown was estimated 2-3 weeks. Due to faster than estimated process of the maintenance, the unit was again set in operation on December 26 (i.e.  8 days after the complete shutdown).

On 15.12.2006 an inspection was conducted of the fluid catalytic cracking facility at the Kralupy site of Česká rafinérská, a.s. and as a result it was decided that on 19.12.2006 the facility would be shut down due to turbine repair. For UNIPETROL RAFINÉRIE, a.s., a 100% subsidiary of UNIPETROL, a.s. and a processor in Česká rafinérská, a.s. this shutdown meant a cut-off of fuels deliveries which had to be covered from other sources and by purchases.

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 2005 UNIPETROL recorded revenues amounting to CZK 81 billion and a net profit of CZK 3.5 billion.

Contact: 
Michaela Lagronová 
Spokesperson 
Unipetrol, a.s. 
Mobile: + 420 602 304 708 
E-mail: michaela.lagronova@unipetrol.cz​