Text: M.Zisso; Photo: Archive
The international professional conference “Leading Minds Forum 2023” was held in Ostrava, on what further development of the European and Czech energy industry can be expected. The annual event was organised by the consulting company DDeM.
The key question discussed was “Energy market reform – necessity or populism?” focusing on the future of the European and Czech energy industry, namely on the regulation of the energy market and related upcoming legislation, sustainability and strategic management of power resources, as well as conditions for the operation of energy infrastructure and measures related to greater customer protection or support of the investment environment.
It was also emphasised that in addition to the ongoing energy prices policy, the current government must also deal with a medium-term prospect for the domestic energy industry and related adjustments to the investment environment.
Tomáš Pojar, National Security Advisor of the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic, spoke about new challenges in the field of strategic energy infrastructure in connection with the ongoing war conflict in Ukraine. Pavel Cyrani, Member of the Board of Directors of CEZ, focused on the development of electricity and natural gas prices in the near future. He also mentioned the negotiation of long-term LNG contracts, as well as negotiations on access to LNG terminals in Germany and Poland. Tomáš Varcop, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Innogy Czech Republic, evaluated Innogy‘s activities after the stoppage of Russian gas supplies to the Czech Republic and new products that the company has offered to their customers.
Petr Třešňák, Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, presented his views on the reform of the energy market functioning with regard to changes in the National Energy and Climate Plan and in the updated State Energy Policy. René Neděla, Deputy Chief Director of the Energy and Nuclear Resources Section, Ministry of Industry and Trade, presented often intricate negotiations with the European Commission authorities as well as the expected development of the gradual amendment of the Energy Act. Jiří Feist, a Member of the Board of Directors of EP POWER, commented on the company‘s experience with operating nuclear power plants in Slovakia and also summarized the investment potential offered in the Czech energy sector.
Stanislav Trávníček, Chairman of the Energy Regulatory Office Council, mentioned the expected price development in the area of distribution fees, reserved power input, or system services in the horizon of the next few years. Jan Dienstl, a Member of the Supervisory Boards of Sev.en Česká energie, dedicated his contribution to the continued operation of coal-fired power plants and challenges in the field of pumped-storage power plants or small modular reactors. Michal Macenauer, Strategy Director of EGÚ Brno, outlined the share of electricity production from natural gas in years to come and the possibility of replacing natural gas with hydrogen or other green gas in domestic gas consumption.
In addition to members of the state and public administration, representatives of more than 40 industrial and energy companies participated in the debate on current and future necessary capacities, upcoming measures, and new business opportunities.
Cylinders Holding and Innogy Česká republika became patrons of the event that was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Energy Regulatory Office, Evžen Tošenovský, member of the European Parliament, and the Moravian-Silesian Region. The main partners are ČEPS, ČEZ, EP Holding groups, and European Conservatives and Reformists. Among partners, there are ANACOT CAPITAL, RWE Gas Storage CZ, ŠKO-ENERGO, Siemens, and UCED group.
For further information about the Leading Minds Forum platform go to www.lmf.cz.
