Czech refinery windfall tax? Orlen Unipetrol warns of retroactivity and market impacts

The windfall tax on increased refinery margins, approved by the government last week in response to high fuel prices, threatens further investment in the development of Czech refineries and the stability of the fuel market, according to Orlen Unipetrol. The company says the proposal also raises constitutional concerns, as the tax would have a retroactive effect and target a single domestic company. Orlen Unipetrol said this in a statement today.

A week ago, the government decided to impose a windfall tax on refineries, which will apply this year and next. The tax will be levied on the increase in margins compared with 2025. The government is introducing the sectoral tax in response to a rise in refinery margins caused by disruption to the global oil market.

According to the company's analysis, the government proposal in its current form raises serious doubts about its compatibility with the constitutional order.