US industrial gases company Air Products has signed a new long-term agreement with Unipetrol in the Czech Republic. The contract, which will run until 2027, extends a collaboration spanning more than 20 years. Under the terms of the deal, Air Products will continue to supply industrial gases from its air separation unit (ASU) to meet Unipetrol’s needs at its site in Zaluzi, Litvinov. The contract includes the provision of operational and maintenance services on the industrial gas production equipment.

The ASU will also supply additional liquid capacity to meet the needs of it’s the petrochemical group’s other customers across the Czech Republic and central Europe. Unipetrol is currently rebuilding its ethylene cracker in Litvinov, which is expected to resume full operation in October of this year following a partial restart is in July. The plant was severely damaged by an explosion and fire in August 2015.