Unipetrol a.s. (Prague, Czech Republic; www.unipetrol.cz) has officially broken ground for the construction of a new polyethylene unit (PE3). It is the largest investment in the history of the Czech petrochemical industry in the amount of CZK 8.5 billion (approximately $355 million). Once put into operation, the unit will be among the most advanced production facilities of its kind in Europe, says Unipetrol. Inauguration of the new polyethylene unit is planned in mid-2018. The new polyethylene unit PE3 will have a production capacity of up to 270,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr).
“This investment is an important project in terms of the development of the Czech chemical industry and with its long tradition in the country creates a large part of the local industrial production. The new polyethylene unit will push Unipetrol into the group of European leaders in terms of plastic production quality and enable the company to reach more industrial sectors,” said Marek Świtajewski, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Unipetrol.
Construction work on the new polyethylene unit should be completed in mid-2018. Up to 800 workers will be onsite during certain phases of the construction. The new polyethylene unit will be built on the basis of the technology license by INEOS which Unipetrol acquired at the end of 2013. The main contractor is Technip.
Unipetrol breaks ground on Czech Republic’s largest petrochemical project
| By Mary Bailey