ORLEN Unipetrol set to restart operations at Litvinov Refinery

On Friday, August 30, 2024, shortly after noon, pyrotechnicians from the Czech Republic Police, in collaboration with the Fire and Rescue Service, successfully neutralized an unexploded World War II bomb found during excavation work at ORLEN Unipetrol Group’s chemical plant in Záluží near Litvínov. Discovered on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, this bomb was of a type never before encountered in modern Czech history. Weighing 230 kg, it contained approximately 100 kg of explosives and posed a significant risk due to its long-term chemical time igniter, which used acetone for delayed detonation. The neutralization process was complex, lasting ten days, and required an immediate shutdown of operations at the Litvínov Refinery, as well as extensive safety measures across the chemical site.

Mariusz Wnuk, chairman of the board of directors of ORLEN Unipetrol, expressed his deep respect and gratitude to everyone involved in the operation. He specifically thanked the Czech Police, the Fire and Rescue Service, and all other components of the Integrated Rescue System. Wnuk also extended thanks to state administration and municipal representatives, institutions, business partners both within Czechia and internationally, and the employees of ORLEN Unipetrol and the broader ORLEN Group for their dedication and professionalism in handling this unprecedented and dangerous situation.

Due to the forced shutdown of fuel production at the Litvínov Refinery, ORLEN Unipetrol requested a loan of fuels from the state’s material reserves. Wnuk thanked the Czech government, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Administration of State Material Reserves for their support, which, along with increased fuel imports from the broader ORLEN Group, ensured adequate fuel supplies in the Czech market despite the refinery's closure.

The preparations for the bomb’s neutralization, as well as the operation itself, necessitated restrictions on production and transportation, including adjacent roads, tramways, railway tracks, and local tourist and cycle paths. Wnuk also expressed gratitude to local residents for their cooperation with safety measures, which helped prevent any incidents or injuries during the procedure.

ORLEN Unipetrol’s technicians and engineers are now closely monitoring and assessing the impact of the controlled explosion on the Litvínov site’s production technologies and infrastructure. Wnuk emphasized that employee safety is a top priority and that production will only resume once all technologies have been thoroughly inspected and deemed safe. The restoration of production is expected to take several days after such a large-scale shutdown.

The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the leading refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It specializes in crude oil processing, along with the production, distribution, and sale of vehicle fuels and petrochemical products, including plastics and fertilizers. ORLEN Unipetrol is a key player in these sectors across the Czech and Central European markets. The Group manages refineries and production facilities in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, alongside Paramo in Pardubice, Spolana in Neratovice, REMAQ in Otrokovice, and operates two research centers in Litvínov and Brno. Additionally, ORLEN Unipetrol oversees the ORLEN network of petrol stations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. It is one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic by turnover and employs over 6,000 people. ORLEN Unipetrol is committed to corporate social responsibility, focusing on sustainable development, education, local communities, and environmental initiatives. The Group’s commitment to employee care is reflected in its receipt of the prestigious international Top Employer certificate in 2023 and 2024, along with several national awards. Since 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol has been part of the ORLEN Group, the largest energy company in Central Europe.