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4 I Companies & Markets bne September 2022
The government has seized half Damborice's capacity, or 242mn cubic meters. / bne IntelliNews
Czechia seizes part of Gazprom’s gas storage capacity
Albin Sybera
The Czech government has seized unused gas stor- age capacity in a facility part-owned by Gazprom, the Russian gas giant, in order to boost the country's gas reserves before the coming winter.
Under an amendment made to the country’s Energy Act, signed into law in June, the state can seize unused gas capacities in gas storage facilities across the country.
EU member states have agreed to raise the usage of their gas storage facilities to 80% before the start of November. Czechia has currently filled 81% of its storage capacity but only 35.9% of the capacity in the Damborice gas storage facility part owned by Gazprom is currently full.
Damborice is operated by Moravian Gas Storage (MGS), a joint venture (JV) owned by Gazprom and MND (Moravske naftove doly), which is part of the KKCG holding of companies of Czech billionaire Karel Komarek. Almost the entire capacity in the facility was leased to Gazprom.
The facility is one of the most modern underground
gas storage facilities in Europe and its construction was commenced in 2013 following the establishment of the Moravian Gas Storage JV. Its overall capacity is 448mn cubic meters, and according to Czech TV the government has seized half its capacity, or 242mn cubic meters.
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The new legislation stipulates that unused gas capacities need to be auctioned or the operators risk losing it. The Ministry of Finance said that no buyer took part in a recent auction organised by Moravian Gas Storage, according to Czech TV.
Gazprom has warned European consumers that they face further gas price pain this winter as its own supplies to the continent remain heavily constrained and soaring summer temperatures continue to drive up energy demand.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, KKCG has been in talks over the transfer of its shares in Moravian Gas Storage to the Czech state in attempt to improve its image.
Besides energy, KKCG is active in the lottery business, which includes the takeover of once bankrupted Czech lottery behemoth Sazka or the recent successful bid in the UK National Lottery tender. Komarek's close links with Russia have become an embarassment to the gambling tycoon, and were raised by Camelot, the losing bidder in the UK National Lottery tender, in its failed attempt to keep the license. Komarek has written an open letter criticising Russia's invasion.
According to KKCG’s website, MND is the fastest growing independent energy supplying company in Czechia.