The Kralupy refinery, part of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group, is marking 50 years since the start of production this year. Over half a century of operation, the original refinery has evolved into a modern production complex with a processing capacity of approximately 3.3 million tonnes of crude oil per year, producing petrol, diesel and aviation kerosene. In recent years, the site has undergone a number of significant modernisation projects, including the commissioning of a flue gas heat recovery unit, the introduction of technology for blending sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and this year’s extensive modernisation of the production site during a general shutdown.
“Fifty years of operation at the Kralupy refinery represents a significant milestone not only for our production site, but also for the Czech refining industry and the Czech Republic’s energy security. The Kralupy site is an important part of the country’s energy infrastructure and, at the same time, proof that a traditional industrial enterprise can invest in modernisation, innovation and the development of production technologies over the long term,” said Milan Brejchal, a member of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group’s Board of Directors responsible for production.
The history of the current Kralupy refinery began in 1969 with the decision to build the New Kralupy Refinery. Full-scale operations commenced in 1975, and the site gradually became one of the pillars of the Czech refining industry. Key milestones included the construction of the fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit in 2001, which significantly increased the refinery’s capacity to produce high-quality motor fuels, the connection to the international TAL/IKL oil pipeline system in 1996, and the extensive modernisation of production technologies following its integration into the ORLEN Unipetrol Group. Thanks to ongoing investment, the original refinery has gradually been transformed into a modern energy and industrial complex meeting current European standards.
In addition to modernising its production technologies, the refinery is also preparing for the future transformation of the energy and transport sectors. Its priorities include improving energy efficiency, reducing the carbon footprint of production, developing alternative fuels and implementing further solutions that support the long-term sustainability of operations. In recent years, the site has undergone one of the largest modernisation phases in its history. In the autumn of 2025, a new flue gas heat recovery unit, costing more than half a billion crowns, was commissioned for permanent operation. By utilising waste heat from production processes, the refinery is able to increase both its energy efficiency and self-sufficiency. The project utilises a unique technology involving special polymer heat exchangers, which ranks among the pioneering solutions in the European refining industry.
Modernisation also continued during this year’s planned general shutdown. Investments exceeding two billion crowns included the refurbishment of the gas oil hydrogenation unit, the modernisation of the FCC unit’s reactors, modifications to the fractionation columns, and an overhaul of the safety flare system. These projects will contribute to increased production efficiency, operational reliability and site safety.
Another significant step was the launch of technology for blending Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The Kralupy refinery is thus responding to new European requirements. The project included the construction of a new loading terminal, the adaptation of storage capacities and the installation of modern metering and pumping systems.
The Kralupy refinery is now one of the key production facilities of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group. Its annual processing capacity is approximately 3.3 million tonnes of crude oil, which flows into the site via the TAL and IKL pipelines from the Italian port of Trieste. The refinery primarily processes light, low-sulphur crude oil, most commonly from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan or Algeria. Each year, it produces approximately 1.3 million tonnes of diesel and 850,000 tonnes of motor petrol. Together with the Litvínov refinery, it is the only domestic producer of JET A-1 aviation fuel, which ORLEN Unipetrol also supplies to Václav Havel Airport Prague.
“Half a century of production is, above all, the story of the people who have worked at the Kralupy refinery and continue to do so today. Every generation of employees has left its mark here – from those who were there at the site’s inception to the experts who today manage modern technologies and are preparing the refinery for the coming decades. It is precisely the knowledge, experience and professionalism of our people that are the most valuable assets on which we can build for the future,” added Milan Brejchal.
The Kralupy refinery also features extensive technical and laboratory facilities. Accredited laboratories ensure quality control of motor fuels and aviation fuel, as well as providing analytical support for production. They carry out more than 50 accredited tests, consistently achieving a success rate of over 98 per cent in international comparative tests, and rank among the leading facilities of their kind in Central Europe. ORLEN Unipetrol’s laboratories provide services not only within the ORLEN Group but also to external customers from the Czech Republic and abroad.
Among their most prestigious tasks was the quality control of aviation fuel for the Air Force One presidential aircraft during the official visits of US Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama to the Czech Republic. The fuel quality control followed the same procedures and standards as routine final inspection. A specialist from the US side was present in the laboratory throughout, supervising compliance with all prescribed standards and analytical methods. This experience also confirmed the laboratories’ high level of expertise and their ability to meet even the most demanding requirements for fuel quality control.
The Kralupy refinery has long been one of the region’s most significant employers and industrial enterprises. In addition to its own production, it also creates job opportunities for dozens of supplier and service companies and is an important partner to the town of Kralupy nad Vltavou and the surrounding municipalities. The development of the site is therefore closely linked not only to the development of the Czech energy sector, but also to the economic development of the entire region.
The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the largest refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on oil processing and the production, distribution, and sale of fuels and petrochemical products, particularly plastics and fertilizers. It is a major player in all these areas on the Czech and Central European markets. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group includes refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo in Pardubice, Spolana in Neratovice, REMAQ in Otrokovice, research center in Brno and the engineering design company ORLEN Projekt. ORLEN Unipetrol also owns the ORLEN network of petrol stations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. ORLEN Unipetrol is one of the largest companies in the Czech Republic in terms of turnover. It employs over 3,300 people. ORLEN Unipetrol is also a socially responsible company, particularly in the areas of sustainable development, education, local communities, and the environment. A testament to the high quality of employee care is the prestigious international Top Employer certification, which the Group received in 2023, 2024 and 2025, along with several national awards. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became part of the ORLEN Group, the largest energy company in Central Europe.
Contact: Pavel Kaidl,
spokesperson, telephone: +420 736 502 520, e-mail: pavel.kaidl@orlenunipetrol.cz