“Last year, we invested in the construction of new technology units and modernisation of the existing ones. This means that our refineries are already ready to meet the tightened environmental standards which will come into force this year,” said Tomasz Wiatrak, Chief Executive Officer of the Unipetrol Group, adding: “We had a successful year especially in the retail segment. In the Czech Republic, we increased Benzina’s share in the volume of fuels sold and we made a robust entry to the Slovak market. We also launched a campaign aimed at raising the public awareness of the affiliation of the Benzina brand with the parent international group, ORLEN, within which we want to highlight our investment in support of performance-based and recreational sports.”
The volume of processed crude-oil amounted to 7.85 million tonnes. Sales volumes of refinery products amounted to 6.62 million tonnes and of petrochemical products to 1.65 million tonnes. Investments totalled CZK 6.7 billion. They went primarily to the ongoing modernisation of production technologies, in the construction of a new gas-fired boiler house of the steam cracker and to the works on the polyethylene unit, PE3.
In the retail segment, Unipetrol continued investing in the modernisation and development of its network of filling stations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In the Czech Republic, it implemented the Stop Cafe fast food concept in 36 outlets, and it is now available in 306 out of the current 416 stations. This resulted in a 16.3% increase in refreshment-related sales. Unipetrol again strengthened the leading position of the Benzina brand in the Czech Republic, increasing its market share to 24.3% (as of 31 October 2019). Last year, investment went also to Slovakia where Benzina opened its activity in April, thus starting its fast expansion. At the end of 2019, Benzina operated 10 stations in Slovakia, including two self-service stations.
Unipetrol also continued developing its activities related to corporate social responsibility and sustainable business activities. It provided systematic support to education at all levels, from primary schools to universities. More than CZK 8 million was allocated to support students, teachers and schools last year. Together with its foundation, Unipetrol supported or implemented a wide array of educational and entertaining projects, promoting chemistry as a modern and attractive and highly promising field.
Unipetrol spent almost CZK 2 billion on projects related to environmental protection and support. The funds went to the modernisation of production, energy efficiency optimisation and reduction of emissions and waste. Furthermore, the company cooperated with many non-profit organisations on projects relating to environmental protection.
The Unipetrol Group is the largest refinery and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on crude-oil processing and on the production, distribution and sale of vehicle fuels and petrochemical products – particularly plastics and fertilisers. In all these areas, it belongs among the important players on the Czech and Central European market. The Unipetrol Group encompasses refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo with its Mogul brand in Pardubice and Kolín, Spolana Neratovice, and two research centres in Litvínov and Brno. Unipetrol also includes a network of Benzina filling stations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. With 416 filling stations, Benzina is the largest chain in the Czech Republic. Unipetrol is one of the largest companies in terms of turnover in the Czech Republic. It earned CZK 129 billion last year and employs more than 4,800 persons. In addition to its business development, Unipetrol is proud to be a socially responsible corporation. Therefore, it pays an equal amount of attention to initiatives which focus on the cultivation and support of sustainable development, education, local communities, and the environment. In 2005, Unipetrol became a member of the ORLEN Group, the largest crude-oil processor in Central Europe.
For more information, please visit the “Responsible Company” section at
www.unipetrol.cz.
Contact information: Pavel Kaidl, spokesman, telephone: +420 225 001 407, +420 736 502 520, e-mail:
pavel.kaidl@unipetrol.cz