On Monday, 26 May 2025, the refinery in Kralupy nad Vltavou conducted a planned emergency exercise, simulating an oil leak caused by a loose flange joint. The tactical emergency drill aimed to assess the reaction to a simulated oil leakage scenario and evaluate the company’s defined internal emergency plan. The exercise also involved the evacuation of people from the location of the event. The training had no impact on the environment and did not restrict site operations. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is part of the state’s critical infrastructure, which is why tactical emergency drills are held regularly.
“We organise an emergency exercise with the emergency team of the 2nd or 3rd level at the Kralupy Refinery once a year, thus also meeting the legislative requirements. We operate in a high-risk environment, and safety is always our top priority. This year’s emergency drill, which called the emergency staff of the 2nd level, focused on a simulated oil leak from the lower suction part of the storage tank into the safety ring surrounding the tank in the tank yard. Considering the emergency type, we had to announce the second emergency level, evacuate people from the affected units, and prevent further oil leaks,” says Pavel Ballek, Director of the Kralupy Refinery Unit.
The tactical emergency exercise tested the efficiency of the internal emergency plan and verified the up-to-datedness of operational and safety documentation. The training also checked the communication system with external entities. The emergency involved a partial evacuation of people at risk, with those in the affected refinery sector being relocated. “The practical training in crisis situations is also a good opportunity to verify the equipment to be deployed during emergencies. We will evaluate the course of the training now and reflect the conclusions in continuous improvements of the efficiency of our response,” Pavel Ballek adds.
The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the only oil processing company in Czechia and a part of the country’s critical infrastructure. Therefore, it is required by law to verify the emergency plan every three years. Yet ORLEN Unipetrol conducts tactical emergency exercises at its refineries in Litvínov and Kralupy on a regular basis each year.
The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the largest refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on crude oil processing and the production, distribution and sale of vehicle fuels and petrochemical products – particularly plastics and fertilisers. It belongs among the key players on the Czech and Central European markets in all these areas. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group encompasses refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo in Pardubice, Spolana in Neratovice, REMAQ in Otrokovice, and two research centres in Litvínov and Brno. ORLEN Unipetrol also includes 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 5,000 people. ORLEN Unipetrol is also a socially responsible company, particularly in the areas of supporting sustainable development, education, local communities and the environment. Its quality employee care is attested to by the prestigious Top Employer certificate which the Group received in 2023 and 2024 and by a host of national accolades. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became part of the ORLEN Group, the largest energy company in Central Europe.
Contact details: Pavel Kaidl, spokesperson, tel.: +420 736 502 520, email: pavel.kaidl@orlenunipetrol.cz