### Orlen Unipetrol’s Litvínov Refinery and Petrochemical Operations Resume Amid Flood Risks
Orlen Unipetrol, a leading refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic, has recently navigated a set of extraordinary challenges at its Litvínov refinery and petrochemical complex. The operational dynamics have been significantly influenced by two major events: the discovery of an unexploded World War II aerial bomb and the current flood threat.
#### Initial Shutdown Due to the World War II Bomb
On August 21, 2024, excavation work in a remote area of the Chempark Záluží petrochemical complex unearthed an unexploded aerial bomb. This unexpected discovery immediately led to the safe shutdown of all production and energy units at the Litvínov refinery, which has remained fully shuttered since August 22. The bomb posed a significant risk due to its long-term chemical time igniter and weighed 230 kg, with about 100 kg of explosives.
The neutralization process, managed by the Czech Police and Fire and Rescue Services, was complex and required extensive safety measures across the chemical site. The controlled detonation took place on August 30, 2024, after a 10-day preparation period, ensuring no significant damage to the production infrastructure. Post-detonation inspections by the Czech Republic police and internal teams followed, paving the way for the resumption of operations.
#### Restart of Operations
Following the successful disposal of the bomb, Orlen Unipetrol initiated a comprehensive inspection of the area to ensure all production units and infrastructure were safe. This thorough process aimed to verify the condition of the facilities and technologies, a crucial step in securing employee safety as emphasized by Mariusz Wnuk, the chairman of the board of directors. Once all inspections were completed, production resumed at the Chempark Záluží site by September 9, 2024, with operations at the Litvínov refinery