NAFTA a.s. strengthens the position of a key hub in the European gas network in 2012

Thanks to flexible storage capacities with good connection to the networks in the region of Central and Eastern Europe, NAFTA has been significantly contributing to the energy security of the region, and also to facilitating trading on the gas market. In 2012, NAFTA continued in the project for development of storage capacities in Gajary-Baden, but also in expanding its portfolio of storage products.

“In NAFTA we have a successful year behind us, in which the company confirmed that it is able to offer professional services, innovative products and expertise in the dynamically evolving and promising sector. Although the situation on the storage capacities market is presently not a simple one, NAFTA has been responding well to market changes by improving flexibility and offering a wide range of storage products. This is, for instance, evidenced by the unique product called Option, which NAFTA has brought to the market as the first company in Europe,”  Mr. Martin Bartošovič, General Director of NAFTA a.s., said in this respect.

The year-to-year drop in the profit of NAFTA a.s. by approximately 9% was mainly caused by the settlement of one-time transactions in 2011, which related to positive developments in lawsuits, and also by lower sales of hydrocarbons produced in 2012. The introduction of a special levy for companies operating in regulated segments had a negative impact on earnings as well. NAFTA contributed EUR 1.6 million in the form of special levy for 2012 period.

NAFTA a.s. invested almost EUR 20 million in the past year. The most significant investment was the continuation in the Gajary-Baden project improving the energy security of the country and supporting the interconnection of the storage facility with gas networks. Once the project is successfully completed in 2014, NAFTA’s storage capacity will reach 2.5 bcm, thus significantly enhancing the security standard of gas supplies in the region of Central Europe.

As of 31st December 2012, 733 employees worked in NAFTA a.s.