The Unipetrol Group (Prague, Czech Republic; www.unipetrol.cz) started producing aviation fuel in its Litvínov Refinery to meet growing demand for aviation fuel and new business opportunities within the international group PKN Orlen, the majority owner of Unipetrol. By opening the production in Litvínov, Unipetrol will increase its production capacity for aviation fuel by around 30% to 200,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr). The investment in expanding production exceeded CZK 100 million.
“We are responding to growing demand for aviation fuel and, at the same time, we are using the synergies that we have at hand. The first is the appreciation of a 100% stake in our refineries, which we acquired in 2015 by integrating Česká rafinérská, and the second is the trading and distribution opportunities due to use being part of the international group PKN Orlen,” explained Krzysztof Zdziarski, Chairman of the Unipetrol Board of Directors. “By extending our production to Litvínov we can be more efficient in laying out production capacities, increasing distribution flexibility and respond more effectively to seasonal fluctuations in fuel consumption,” he added.
Unipetrol is the only producer of JET A-1 aviation fuel in the Czech Republic. This high-quality fuel, also known as jet kerosene, is suitable for most jet planes. Unipetrol, in cooperation with PKN Orlen, supplies it to Václav Havel Airport Prague or the Administration of State Material Reserves. Unipetrol plans to produce up to 200,000 tons per year of jet fuel, of which about one third will come from the new production and distribution facility in Litvínov.