On Monday, May 26, 2025, a planned emergency drill will take place at the refinery in Kralupy nad Vltavou from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The drill will simulate an oil spill from a storage tank and the subsequent securing of the site. Warning signals may be heard from the production area and a partial evacuation of people from the emergency site will take place. The aim of the drill is to test the effectiveness of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group's Internal Emergency Plan. The drill will not affect the surrounding area, and road No. 101 running alongside the refinery will remain open to traffic without restrictions. Professional firefighters from Synthos Kralupy a.s. will take part in the drill.
"The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is part of the state's critical infrastructure, which is why we conduct emergency drills every year, even though the law only requires us to review this plan once every three years. Safety throughout the company's premises and its immediate surroundings is a key issue for us. The aim is to verify and enhance the skills and abilities of emergency drill participants through practical training in responding to a given emergency," says Pavel Ballek, Director of the Kralupy Refinery Unit, describing the emergency drill plan. In addition to employees from the affected unit, members of the Synthos Kralupy a.s. fire brigade will also take part in the emergency drill.
Due to a leak in the flange connection, oil will leak from the bottom suction of the storage tank into the safety ring located around the storage tank in the tank yard. Given the nature of the incident, whose potential consequences could endanger the surrounding technology and the vicinity of the Kralupy refinery, it will be necessary to declare a Level 2 accident, evacuate workers from the affected blocks, and prevent further oil leakage. The activities of employees and emergency responders will be governed by the emergency procedures set out in the company's Internal Emergency Plan, the instructions of the incident commander, and the head of the Level II crisis management team.
The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the largest refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on oil processing and the production, distribution, and sale of fuels and petrochemical products, particularly plastics and fertilizers. It is a major player in all these areas on the Czech and Central European markets. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group includes refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo in Pardubice, Spolana in Neratovice, REMAQ in Otrokovice, and two research centers in Litvínov and Brno. ORLEN Unipetrol also owns the ORLEN network of petrol stations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. ORLEN Unipetrol is one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic in terms of turnover. It employs over 6,000 people. ORLEN Unipetrol is also a socially responsible company, particularly in the areas of sustainable development, education, local communities, and the environment. The prestigious international Top Employer certificate, which the group received in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and a number of national awards confirm the high quality of employee care. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became part of the ORLEN Group, the largest energy company in Central Europe.
Contact: Pavel Kaidl, spokesperson
telephone +420 736 502 520