As a part of the EU harmonisation process, Czech Republic has successfully brought its energy sector standards in line with those of the EU. There is also an on-going debate regarding a decrease in the country’s dependence on solid fuels as a primary energy source. Energy Regulatory Authority, which began operating in 2001, is responsible for setting the distribution/ transmition part of the energy prices and for establishing framework for third party access to the electrical grid. Pressure to liberalise the sector and to split up vertically integrated companies has been apparent particularly in the case of power plants. Sustainable development discussions and geopolitical influences create pressure to increase the efficiency of energy processes. In relation to that, there has also been an effort to use alternative energy sources, which in the Czech Republic has had a tradition in the form of small hydropower plants. Together with solar and wind power and the use of biomass, these energy sources represent options for growth.
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Utilities are complex, constantly changing systems. Companies dealing with logistics of commodities such as electricity, water, gas and heat need fast and efficient management. Its geographical position and inclusion in the EU energy framework make Czech Republic the most important transmission point in Central Europe. Distribution companies are faced with challenges of balancing the supply and demand as well as infrastructure restoration and development. In the future, companies must react quickly not only to macroeconomic indicators, but also to political and economic talks on distribution networks landscape in Europe.
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Mining companies in the past have been profiting from rising commodity prices. The economic downturn has brought a sharp drop in market capitalisation of a majority of the large mining companies and has forced the whole sector to radical cost-cutting. Current market conditions will test the companies’ ability to respond quickly to their costs, debt levels and investment efficiency. The sector as a whole has a good outlook and the current situation offers opportunities for new acquisitions and company consolidation.
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