Prague, 9 January 2007 – Czech refineries processing Russian crude oil (Litvínov and Paramo) currently have inventories in stock for approximately one week. The Unipetrol Group is addressing the situation in co-operation with Česká rafinérská’s processors, Česká rafinérská and also Mero. If the oil supply cut lasts longer, Unipetrol will ask the State Material Reserve Administration Authority for a loan of part of its inventories.

We do not expect this situation to impact the prices of refinery products or to lead to an interruption in supplies to the domestic market.

Unlike other countries, the Czech Republic has diversified its resources and also uses the IKL pipeline from Ingolstadt, Germany. This pipeline supplies what is called “sweet crude” (with a lower sulphur content) to Česká rafinérská’s Kralupy refinery. If required, Unipetrol can consider a greater reliance on the IKL pipeline.

UNIPETROL is a group of companies active in the petrochemical industry in the Czech Republic. UNIPETROL became part of the PKN ORLEN group in 2005, the largest oil processor in the Central Europe. UNIPETROL focuses on processing crude oil, distributing fuels and petrochemical production. UNIPETROL is a major player in all three fields in the Czech Republic as well as on the Central European market. UNIPETROL posted revenue of CZK 81 billion and a net profit of CZK 3.5 billion in 2005.

Contact: 
Michaela Lagronová 
Spokesperson 
Unipetrol, a.s.

Mobil: +420 602 304 708 
E-mail: michaela.lagronova@unipetrol.c​