ORLEN Unipetrol has announced that an unexploded World War II aerial bomb was found during excavation works at its production plant in Litvínov – Záluží, the Czech Republic.

“Considering the inherent risk of an uncontrolled explosion of the bomb, ORLEN Unipetrol RPA s.r.o. in liaison with the Czech Police, resolved to carry out an immediate preventive shutdown of all production and energy units located in the refinery part of the Litvinov production site and to evacuate all non-critical personnel.  These production and energy units will remain in shutdown until further notice.  Production units in the petrochemicals part of the Litvinov production site are in limited operation now but the units will be go into a planned shutdown due to lack of feedstock availability in the course of next couple of days. As a consequence of this extraordinary situation, crude oil processing in our Litvinov refinery plant as well as production at the Steam Cracker Unit and the polymerization units are severely impacted,” the company said in a statement.

This event represents, among others, an extraordinary, unforeseen and insurmountable obstacle occurring independently of ORLEN Unipetrol RPA s.r.o. will and beyond its control, i.e. a force majeure event. This obstacle – a force majeure event - still continues.

The occurrence and continuation of the above specified obstacle – a force majeure event - makes it impossible for ORLEN Unipetrol RPA s.r.o. to duly perform its obligations arising from contractual arrangements with its business partners.

The occurred obstacle – a force majeure event - excludes any liability on part of ORLEN Unipetrol RPA s.r.o. and relieves ORLEN Unipetrol RPA s.r.o. from its obligations arising from, or in connection with, contractual arrangements with its business partners, including, without limitation, liability to compensate damage or other loss, or other obligations or liabilities under any other contractual provisions providing remedy.