EXPERT DISCUSSION ON HOW COVID-19 WILL CHANGE THE EUROPEAN AND CZECH ENERGY SECTOR
First expert discussion on substantive new Energy Bill takes place in Ostrava
In boxing terms, Europe has taken a knockout coronavirus blow. What advice will it take from its coach during the break so that it doesn’t throw its towel into the ring in the next round? This was one subject of discussion for participants at the 11th annual International Energy Club (IEC) conference, held as per tradition in Ostrava, on the subject of Energy vs. Covid-19.
The discussion was opened by Evžen Tošenovský, Member of the European Parliament and member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). He said that up to 750 billion Euros will be available from the fund for restoring economies impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Following on from his words were Michael Wunnerlich, Executive Director of the Ger- man Association of Energy and Water Industries’ representation to the EU, and Jiří Feist, Member of the Board of Directors of EP POWER EUROPE. He warned that the coronavirus has completely derailed established mechanisms, and estimated that the Czech Republic will have to secure energy security by itself, as nobody else will help it.
Tomáš Varcop, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of innogy Česká republika and CEO of innogy Energie, explained that the pandemic was giving new impetus to the process of digitalisation, and it would be a good idea to put into new legislation what has been learnt from the course of the crisis. This is being prepared by René Neděla, Deputy Minister for Energy at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, who introduced the substantive new Energy Bill. Martin Durčák, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ČEPS, Martina Krčová, Member of the Energy Regulatory Office Board and Lenka Kovašovská, Executive Director of the Czech Gas Association discussed the changes which will be required to work on in preparation for the final wording of the bill.
In the context of the EU’s climate objectives and the Green Deal for Europe, Martin Záklasník, Chief Executive Officer at E.ON in the Czech Republic, Tomáš Hüner, Director of Siemens Smart Infrastructure, Jaromír Vorel, CEO at SKO-ENERGO, and Jan Světlík, Chief Executive Officer of CYLINDERS HOLDING, discussed the new business and investment opportunities this will entail. The event was organized by DDeM Consultancy.
