Join us for a technical webinar with guest speaker Ondrej Lhotsky, Ph.D. (Dekonta), co-presented by Jack Shore (REGENESIS), showcasing the emergency response and remediation strategy implemented following a major railway accident involving pure benzene in eastern Czechia.
Described as one of the most significant inland benzene spills in Europe, in February 2025, a freight train transporting pure benzene derailed and caught fire. The accident released hundreds of tonnes of benzene, which infiltrated the shallow, highly permeable gravel aquifer beneath the site and threatened to impact a nearby lake.
The incident required an immediate, large scale response to prevent the rapid migration of free phase and dissolved benzene toward a sensitive surface water body.
Dekonta, acting as an environmental emergency response contractor supporting the Czech Integrated Rescue System, was tasked with both emergency response and remediation under exceptionally demanding time constraints.
Key challenges included:
- Rapid migration of free phase (LNAPL) and dissolved benzene
- Highly permeable gravel geology with groundwater velocities of up to several metres per day
- Immediate risk to a nearby lake and connected surface waters
- The need to operate under a declared state of emergency
This webinar will describe how PetroFix® was integrated into the emergency remediation framework to rapidly prevent further spread of the contamination, immediately protecting groundwater and the adjacent lake. PetroFix has also enhanced the biological degradation of contamination, avoiding the need for extractive processes.
This project highlights the importance of close collaboration between emergency responders, remediation contractors, and technology providers. The coordinated effort between Dekonta and REGENESIS allowed for rapid piloting, design validation, and full scale implementation within a very short timeframe. The webinar will explore the emergency site assessment and decision-making process, examine the containment and hydraulic control measures implemented, and present key results and performance data.
Ondrej Lhotsky, Ph.D.
Senior Technical Specialist, Dekonta
Ing. Ondřej Lhotský, Ph.D. is an environmental specialist with over 14 years of experience in site investigation and remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater. He specializes in the development and implementation of innovative remediation technologies, including direct sensing methods and advanced in situ approaches.
As a Project Manager in the R&D department at DEKONTA, a.s., he leads national and international projects, bridging cutting-edge research with practical field applications. His work focuses on technology transfer, optimization of remediation strategies, and introducing modern techniques—such as application of PetroFix—into the Central European market.
Jack Shore
Regional Manager Europe,
REGENESIS
Jack Shore is the Regional Manager for Europe at REGENESIS, bringing over 15 years of experience in the contaminated land industry. His career spans roles as a consultant, contractor, and remediation specialist, with a primary focus on designing and implementing in situ remediation solutions. Jack has evaluated over 3,500 sites across Western Europe for their suitability using REGENESIS’ technologies. At REGENESIS, Jack leads a European team of district managers and technical services personnel. He holds a BSc in Environmental Geoscience from Cardiff University and is a Chartered Scientist.