“The traditional fish release into the Elbe, where we also engage local schoolchildren, is organised twice a year. The children thus learn many interesting things about life in waterways and the importance of a friendly approach to the environment,” Piotr Kearney, an executive at Spolana, commented on the traditional fish release.

All fish species released into the river are typical for the Elbe’s character. “This year, we primarily released common carp or tench, basses and zanders, species that play a crucial role in maintaining a balanced community and performing important environmental functions in the river,” said Alois Hádek, chairperson of the Czech Anglers Union branch in Neratovice.

The company stocks the Elbe with fish in spring and autumn. During the event, schoolchildren were talking to the anglers, grilled sausages, and participated in educational competitions organised by the environmental centre in Kralupy nad Vltavou. “We always arrange a special side programme for the children. After the release, they can verify their freshly acquired knowledge about the world in Czech rivers in a playful manner,” added Martina Černá from the environmental centre in Kralupy nad Vltavou.

“Children love this kind of learning experience and always enjoy it when their lessons are enlivened with practical demonstrations. The event was filled with a wonderful atmosphere, perfectly prepared competitions, and a delightful barbecue. For most children, the experience of holding a fish and releasing it into the river is truly unforgettable,” said Milena Novotná, a teacher at the primary school of Ing. Plesinger-Božinov in Neratovice.

Neratovice-based Spolana also supports environmental development with other beneficial activities. For instance, it supports the regular nesting of the critically endangered peregrine falcon on a chimney stack on its production premises. Also, they have been keeping bees at Spolana for six years. The beehives have been placed at the former chocolate and saccharine production site since 2018. The outstanding quality of the local honey has been repeatedly attested by the accredited laboratory of the Bee Research Institute.

SPOLANA s.r.o. is one of the largest chemical manufacturing companies in the Czech Republic. The only manufacturer of PVC and caprolactam also produces ammonium sulphate and sulphuric acid. It currently employs over 700 people. Spolana has been owned by the ORLEN Unipetrol Group since 2016. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group is the largest refining and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. It focuses on crude oil processing and production, distributing and selling fuels and petrochemical products – mainly plastics and fertilisers. It is one of the major players in the Czech and Central European markets in all these areas. The ORLEN Unipetrol Group includes refineries and production plants in Litvínov and Kralupy nad Vltavou, Paramo in Pardubice, Spolana in Neratovice, and two research centres in Litvínov and Brno. ORLEN Unipetrol also includes the ORLEN network of filling 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 almost 6,000 people. In addition to its business development, ORLEN Unipetrol is proud to be a socially responsible corporation. Therefore, it pays equal attention to initiatives focusing on cultivating and supporting sustainable development, education, local communities, and the environment. In 2005, ORLEN Unipetrol became part of the PKN Orlen Group, the largest oil processor in Central Europe.

Contact details: Pavel Kaidl, spokesperson, telephone: +420 225 001 407, +420 736 502 520, email: pavel.kaidl@orlenunipetrol.cz