Unipetrol (Prague, Czech Republic; www.unipetrol.cz/) has completed and officially commissioned the principal part of the construction of the new polyethylene unit (PE3). This plant represents the record-highest petrochemicals investment project ever in the Czech Republic.
Unipetrol’s new polyethylene facility is nearing commercial operations (Source: Unipetrol)
“We are reinforcing our position in the petrochemical industry that will be playing an increasing role in the coming years. The new polyethylene unit is the highest investment ever to the chemical industry in the Czech Republic. It will produce 270,000 tons of the modern high-density polyethene granulate per year,” says Tomasz Wiatrak, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Unipetrol Group.
The new polyethylene unit, PE3, will replace the existing unit, PE1. Operations of the PE2 unit with an annual capacity of 200,000 metric tons will continue. The total production capacity of the petrochemical plant in Litvínov will grow from 320,000 to 470,000 metric tons of polyethylene. The total capital expenditure is planned at CZK 9.6 billion (around $385 million).
The investment will enable deeper integration of the petrochemical and refinery production not only within the Unipetrol Group but also within the PKN ORLEN Group. The new technologies will allow Unipetrol to expand its activities in the new market segments and increase its competitiveness in the petrochemical industry both at the national and international level.