Pro média

Statement on ÚOHS’s decision on Czech Coal’s dominant position on the coal market

16.12.2009

We resolutely disagree with the conclusion reached by ÚOHS [Office for the Protection of Competition] in respect of Czech Coal Group's abuse of its dominant position on the brown coal market. We will seek a reconsideration of ÚOHS's opinion using all the legal ways and means available to us.

Czech Coal Group has a dominant position on the brown coal market in general, because Czech Coal's share of the market of uncommitted coal is 56%. Czech Coal's dominant position vis-à-vis United Energy was entirely evident as United Energy was technologically connected with MUS (or, as applicable, Czech Coal) and physically did not have any possibility to take coal from a different supplier.

The option of public authorities imposing fines on Czech Coal under the law on prices remains available, specifically for abuse of economic position (which is not identical with dominant position within the meaning of the law on the protection of competition). It is the law on prices that provides fundamental protection against the charging of unreasonable prices.

The fact that Czech Coal is abusing its market position and distorting competition has also been confirmed by last year's decision of the Ministry of Finance, as the authority entitled to supervise compliance with the law on prices; the Ministry imposed a fine of CZK 37.5 million on Czech Coal (or, as applicable at that time, MUS of the Czech Coal Group) for MUS's abuse of its market position and charging unreasonably high prices for its coal.

United Energy is part of the ENERGETICKÝ A PRŮMYSLOVÝ HOLDING group.

Martin Maňák
Director of Communications
Energetický a průmyslový holding

• ENERGETICKÝ A PRŮMYSLOVÝ HOLDING launches extraction from the Silesia mine in Poland9.5.2012
  STATEMENT FROM EPH ON THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S DECISION 28.3.2012
  JAN ŠPRINGL BECOMES NEW CEO OF EP ENERGY20.2.2012
  THE EP INDUSTRIES GROUP FINALISES ITS SHAREHOLDING STRUCTURE14.2.2012
  EPH’s STATEMENT ON THE ACQUISITION OF A 50% STAKE IN MIBRAG FROM ČEZ28.7.2011
  EP INDUSTRY TO BE DEMERGED FROM EPH25.7.2011
  EPH INCREASES ITS EQUITY INTEREST IN DALKIA ČR TO 10 PERCENT27.5.2011
  ELEKTRÁRNY OPATOVICE AND ELEKTRIZACE ŽELEZNIC PRAHA ALREADY A PART OF EPH 17.1.2011
  EPH ESTABLISHES AN ENERGY SUB-GROUP, EP ENERGY5.1.2011
  ENERGETICKÝ A PRŮMYSLOVÝ HOLDING ACQUIRES 5 PERCENT OF DALKIA ČR SHARES28.12.2010
• ENERGETICKÝ A PRŮMYSLOVÝ HOLDING takes over the Silesia mine in Poland 9.12.2010
  STATEMENT13.10.2010
  Statement on speculations about the European Commission’s alleged new investigation into the agreement 17.9.2010
  ENERGETICKÝ A PRŮMYSLOVÝ HOLDING buys the Silesia mine in Poland 29.6.2010
  SOR Libchavy, the bus manufacturer, has introduced a prototype of an electric bus and a hybrid bus 4.6.2010
  STATEMENT TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S DECISION TO COMMENCE PROCEEDINGS 28.5.2010
  ENERGETICKÝ A PRŮMYSLOVÝ HOLDING selling its meat companies to AGROFERT HOLDING 11.5.2010
  United Energy sues the Czech Coal Group for CZK 118 million for unpaid heat 14.4.2010
  STATEMENT ON THE INSOLVENCY PETITION FILED BY CZECH COAL 8.4.2010
  United Energy Trading’s revenues up to CZK 4.3 billion last year31.3.2010
• STATEMENT ON THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION ON UNITED ENERGY’S ACTION FOR A DECLARATION 6.1.2010
  Statement on ÚOHS’s decision on Czech Coal’s dominant position on the coal market 16.12.2009
  ENERGETICKÝ A PRŮMYSLOVÝ HOLDING sets up its ownership structure and launches operations15.10.2009
  J&T and PPF sign an agreement on forming an energy and industrial holding company 16.2.2009