**Orlen Unipetrol’s Recently Restarted Litvínov Refinery Faces Flood Threat: A Critical Moment for Crisis Management**
In the midst of an extraordinary flood event in the Czech Republic, Orlen Unipetrol AS is bracing for potential challenges at its 5.4-million tonne/year (tpy) integrated refining and petrochemical complex in Litvinov. The ongoing flood, triggered by the low-pressure storm system named Boris, has caused mass-flooding events and fatalities in multiple countries, including the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, and Romania.
Just days after resuming operations following a precautionary shutdown due to the discovery of an unexploded aerial bomb from World War II, Orlen Unipetrol’s Litvinov refining and petrochemical complex faces another significant threat. The bomb, discovered during excavation work at the Chempark Záluží petrochemical complex on August 21, necessitated a controlled detonation by the Czech Republic police and fire rescue services on August 30. Despite a ten-day neutralization process, which required an immediate shutdown of operations at the Litvinov Refinery, the controlled detonation did not result in substantial damage that would complicate the restart of operations.
Operations at Chempark Záluží resumed on September 9, with production at the Litvinov Refinery restored on September 10. However, the floods triggered by storm system Boris pose a substantial risk to both ongoing and resumed operations. To mitigate these risks, Orlen Unipetrol has activated internal crisis teams to address potential impacts on plant technologies, equipment, feedstocks, and finished production. Additionally, the company is coordinating with its network of Orlen gas stations to restore safe operation of at least nine gas stations across the Czech Republic, which were temporarily closed due to flooding.
Maintaining continuity and safety are paramount in this situation. Orlen Unipetrol’s preparedness and proactive