Extended authorization for electrolysis plant at Spolana

At a glance

Czech company Spolana, owned by the ANWIL Group, has received approval from the Central Bohemian Regional Office to extend its integrated permit to utilize its electrolysis plant until June 2017. The company must also make technological amendments to its production by March 2017. The decision is expected to be finalized by the end of September. The extension of the permit allows Spolana to continue its production of chlorine and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and is seen as a compromise that satisfies both environmental and local community interests. Spolana is one of the largest chemical companies in the Czech Republic and is owned by Polish company ANWIL.

Spolana - Czech company from the ANWIL Group, has received approval from Central Bohemian Regional Office for extended integrated permit to utilize electrolysis plant (IPPC) until 30 June 2017. At the same time the company is obliged to prepare technological amendments in production until 31 March 2017. The decision is expected to come into force by the end of September.

The decision of the Czech authorities closes the year-long administrative process. The key point was extension of IPPC for the production of chlorine and consequently, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), that initially expired at the end of 2014. The achieved compromise secures interests of both environmental and local communities as well as reflects economic standing of Spolana and whole ANWIL Group.

- Possitive attitude of the Czech authorities allows Spolana for safe business performance and adequate preparation for technological conversion. It also has positive impact on financial condition of Spolana. We have gone through a long negotiating process but managed to work out a compromise satisfactory to all interested parties - said Krzysztof Wasielewski, CEO of ANWIL.

The Spolana authorities have welcomed the decision of the Czech authorities, too. The achieved agreement allows us to think about the nearest future, and makes us committed to introduction of a number of necessary improvements. I can declare that we will keep the corporate obligations and pay particular attention to further improvement of the environmental indicators during the technology conversion- said Ivan Oliva, CEO of Spolana.

Spolana is one of the largest chemical companies in the Czech Republic and the only Czech producer of PVC and caprolactam. It also produces sodium hydroxide and ammonium sulfate.  It is one of the largest employers in the Neratovice region. Since 2006, Spolana is owned by Polish chemical company ANWIL, member of the ORLEN Group.