INTERVIEW-Czech Unipetrol sees EBIT flat this year

PRAGUE, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Czech downstream oil processing group Unipetrol <UNPEsp.PR> expects 2006 operating profit (EBIT) to be at roughly the same level as last year's 5.27 billion crowns ($233.9 million), Chief Executive Francois Vleugels told Reuters on Wednesday.

Vleugels said that EBIT would be significantly higher without an October stoppage at its Litvinov refinery and subsidiary Chemopetrol.

"Despite that we expect to end the year on EBIT about the level of the last year," he said in an interview, adding that net profit could also be flat, but that would depend on how the company treats write-offs and one-off items.

Vleugels said Unipetrol had completed negotiations to sell its unit Spolana, and the deal would be announced in days.

He said revenue from the sale, as well as income from the pending sale of another unit Kaucuk, could be used for acquisitions, but a special dividend remained an option. ((Reporting by Jan Korselt, editing by Sue Thomas; prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: jan.lopatka.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420-224 190 474)) ($1=22.53 Czech Crown)

Keywords: CHEMICALS CZECH UNIPETROL