### Orlen Unipetrol’s Litvínov Refinery and Petrochemical Operations Remain Offline
Orlen Unipetrol’s integrated refining and petrochemical complex in Litvínov, Czech Republic, has been completely shuttered since August 22, following the discovery of an unexploded aerial World War II bomb during excavation work at the Chempark Záluží petrochemical complex. This extraordinary incident necessitated an immediate shutdown of production and energy units at the Litvínov refinery, which has remained offline while the site undergoes thorough safety measures and inspections.
### Discovery and Immediate Response
On August 21, during excavation activities in a remote part of the Chempark Záluží petrochemical complex, an unexploded aerial bomb from World War II was unearthed. This unexpected discovery forced an immediate and safe shutdown of all production and energy units at the Litvínov refinery to prevent any potential risks to personnel and equipment. The shutdown process was completed by August 22, halting the entire complex’s operations.
### Safety Precautions and Bomb Disposal
The Czech Republic police and fire rescue services were promptly involved in preparing the area for the controlled disposal of the bomb. The disposal process was scheduled for August 30 at noon local time, with continued closures and restrictions on surrounding infrastructure and areas until the completion of the operation. After the bomb’s neutralization, both police and rescue services conducted inspections of the pyrotechnics explosion site, which were followed by Orlen Unipetrol’s own comprehensive inspection of the entire area.
### Inspection and Restart Timeline
Following the completion of these inspections, Orlen Unipetrol will proceed with checking the condition of all production units and infrastructure. This thorough assessment will determine the timeline for restarting operations at the Litvínov refinery and petrochemical complex. Employee safety remains a top priority, and production will only resume once all technologies and infrastructure have been deemed safe.
### Continuity