Support due to high energy prices will be available to more large companies, the government has extended the program to all sectors of the economy. This was announced by the Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela (for STAN) at the press conference after yesterday’s government meeting. However, the support will not be given to fields that are subject to a tax on windfall profits and to businesses that are subject to ceilings on electricity and gas prices.
The program was created on the basis of the so-called temporary crisis framework, which allowed EU states to immediately support entrepreneurs as a result of high energy prices and anti-Russian sanctions. The government is negotiating its extension until the end of 2023. For energy-intensive companies, according to the information so far, the maximum support will amount to CZK 200 million, others will be able to receive a maximum of CZK 45 million, CZK 30 billion were prepared for the program.
Up until now, the support was supposed to concern mainly companies from the processing industry, but also agriculture, fishing and forestry. “It will be able to draw more companies than originally expected,” Síkela said. “We extended the sectoral definition of the program to all sectors of the economy,” he added. Initially, aid was expected for roughly 8,000 businesses.
“Among the sectors that will not be supported from this program are those that are considering the introduction of a tax on windfall profits and businesses falling into the category of customers with capped prices for electricity and gas,” explained the minister. The upcoming tax on extraordinary profits should be paid by energy, petroleum or mining companies and banks.
Those interested in subsidies will have to prove an operating loss, at least half of which was caused by energy costs, the Ministry of Industry said earlier. According to the authority, these enterprises will be entitled to support of 50 percent of the eligible costs, in the case of some types of industries, the aid will be up to 70 percent of the eligible costs.
Other businesses will be eligible for aid if their energy costs rise at least twice. The period from February 1 to December 31 of this year will be compared with the average energy costs of last year.
Source: CTK
