Press releases pg. 18

*The annual guaranteed savings of ČEZ ESCO EPC projects are CZK 200 million

*Savings in 2022 energy prices exceeded CZK 300 million

*The savings potential in public buildings in the Czech Republic is estimated at CZK 20 billion

A total of 32 energy-saving projects designed using the EPC method and now operated by ENESA from ČEZ ESCO saved CZK 227 million in electricity, gas, heat and water costs last year in the prices of the project’s reference years. Converted to last year’s high energy prices, it was over CZK 300 million. The highest savings were achieved by Prague Congress Centre, but record savings were also reported by projects in hospitals and industry. The CO2 equivalent savings amounted to 45,400 tonnes, equivalent to 17 days of operation of a conventional 100 MW coal-fired power plant.

CEZ Group is the first Czech company to join the CEO Water Mandate, a special initiative of the UN Secretary General and the Global Compact corporate platform. With membership in the initiative, CEZ owns up to a commitment to address water protection in a comprehensive manner, in cooperation with the United Nations, national governments, civic initiatives, and others. The participating companies undertake to introduce effective water-management measures and to share examples of best practice in water protection and consumption reduction. Other European utilities companies such as Enel, Engie, E.ON, and Iberdrola have also joined the initiative. By joining, CEZ will step up the water-saving measures with which it has reduced the consumption of drinking water in its classic power plants by two-thirds in the last 10 years.

Operating profit before depreciation (EBITDA) reached CZK 131.6 billion in 2022 and a net profit of CZK 80.7 billion. The significant year-on-year increase reflects the enormous rise in prices as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the record profit from commodity trading on foreign markets and the high operational reliability of ČEZ power plants. In addition, the ČEZ Group contributed to resolving the energy crisis and proved that it is a reliable, socially responsible partner. In 2023, it will pay more than CZK 100 billion to the Czech State in dividends, income taxes and levies on production sales. The economic outlook for 2023, including newly introduced taxation, was already published by ČEZ Group in February: EBITDA in the amount of CZK 105 to 125 billion and net profit adjusted for extraordinary effects of CZK 30 to 40 billion.

The most important strategic task for the ČEZ Group’s Trading Department last year was to acquire capacity at the first ever LNG terminal opened in the EU after the start of the war in Ukraine. The next task was to obtain a sufficient quantity of liquefied natural gas at an acceptable price. But these were far from the only goals. To strengthen energy security, ČEZ traders have ventured into other markets and started trading completely new products. They have also discovered a number of opportunities that they have been able to turn into excellent business results.