Petr Popelar, chairman of the Czech company Moravia Steel, said that this year, for the first time, the company will face a reduction in free emissions quotas, which will increase cost pressures for the Czech steel industry.
According to Popelar, rising costs, stricter environmental commitments requiring significant investments, and persistently high energy prices are putting a heavy burden on steel producers. He stressed that the company is ready to carry out large-scale greening and decarbonization of its production processes, but warned that the market environment must improve in order to ensure the long-term viability and development of the Czech steel sector.
Calls for ETS reform and a unified energy policy
Popelar called for a reassessment of the goals of the European Green Deal, arguing that the initial policy was driven by ideology rather than economic realities. He also called for a review of the EU's ETS emissions quota system, saying that the sharp decline in free allocations should be mitigated and that financial speculators should not influence carbon prices.
In addition, he advocated a unified European energy policy, rather than leaving key decisions to individual national governments, as this creates unequal competitive conditions in the EU. Stressing the strategic importance of the sector, Popelar concluded that Europe must preserve its steel industry, noting that steel is essential for defense.,
