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Czech billionaire Kretinsky's energy assets make $7.8 bln core profit in 2023

Energy business controlled by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's EP Corporate Group on Thursday published core earnings (EBITDA) of 7.3 billion euros ($ 7.8. billion) for 2023.

Kretinsky, with a net worth of $9.2 billion according to. Forbes, constructed his wealth in the energy sector and has been. expanding into other investments throughout Europe in the last few years,. consisting of holdings in Britain's Royal Mail, French. seller Casino and German wholesaler City.

Energy has actually stayed a key business as the group seeks to. transition to lower-emission generation sources after formerly. growing by buying up unwanted coal-fired plants around Europe.

The group reported the energy service results in the. present structure for the very first time.

Its flagship energy holding EPH reported a 17% year-on-year. fall in revenues before interest, tax, depreciation and. amortisation (EBITDA) to 3.6 billion euros in 2023, following a. record 2022.

Kretinsky is the 89.3% owner of EP Corporate Group, which in. turn holds 56% of EPH.

Financiers associated with Czech-Slovak monetary group J&T,. consisting of veteran financial investment partner Patrik Tkac, hold the. rest of EPH, which consists of power generation, heating, gas. storage and transmission, and distribution.

EPH said on Thursday it was evaluating the possibility of. exercising a choice to take over Italian group Enel's stake in. primary Slovak electrical energy manufacturer Slovenske Elektrarne, in which. they effectively hold 33% each.

Kretinsky's energy assets span the Czech Republic, Slovakia. Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and elsewhere. They. have actually installed capability of 22 gigawatts (GW) and produced 72.5. terawatt hours (TWh) of power in 2023, positioning the group among. the greatest producers in Europe.

EPH aims to phase-out coal by the end of the decade. It shut. operations of 5 coal power plants in Germany, Northern. Ireland and Slovakia.

EP Corporate Group said it was increase costs on. renewable tasks and hydrogen-ready power centers, with. investments anticipated to exceed 10 billion euros.

I think that hydrogen, together with energy storage. solutions, will be pivotal in shaping Europe's energy landscape. in the future, Kretinsky stated in a statement.

Kretinsky's bid for the owner of Royal Mail was rebuffed. previously this month, although a source told an improved. deal was being prepared.