**Orlen Unipetrol’s Litvinov Refinery Faces Flood Threat Amid Ongoing Operations**
In the midst of an extraordinary flood event in the Czech Republic, Orlen Unipetrol AS is prepared to implement crisis measures at its 5.4-million tonne/year (tpy) integrated refining and petrochemical complex in Litvinov. The latest development underscores the resilience of the oil and gas industry in the face of natural disasters.
As reported, the region has experienced significant flooding due to a low-pressure storm system named Boris, which has caused mass-flooding events and fatalities in the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, and Romania. This natural disaster arrives just days after the successful restart of operations at Orlen Unipetrol’s Litvinov refining and petrochemical complex, following a precautionary shutdown due to the discovery of an unexploded aerial bomb from World War II during excavation work.
Operations at Chempark Záluží, the petrochemical portion of the complex, resumed on September 9, while production at the Litvinov refinery was restored on September 10. The controlled detonation of the bomb on August 30, facilitated by the Czech Republic police and fire rescue services, did not result in substantial damage complicating the restart of operations.
Despite the recent return to full production, the ongoing flood situation poses a significant threat to the refinery’s operations. Orlen Unipetrol has activated internal crisis teams to minimize impacts on the plants’ technologies, equipment, feedstocks, and finished production. The company is also coordinating with gas stations to restore safe operation of at least nine Orlen gas stations across the Czech Republic that were closed due to the flooding.
Orlen Unipetrol’s preparedness and proactive measures demonstrate their commitment to ensuring continuity and safety in the face of adversity. The resilience of this operation highlights the importance of robust crisis management in the oil and gas industry.
#otsoff