At first glance it might seem that the situation with high energy prices is stabilizing and that perhaps we are out of the worst part, at least from a household perspective. The truth is that there probably isn’t a real threat of gas or electricity shortages this season, but according to experts it would be premature to celebrate. More challenges may arise next year and the situation is far from being resolved definitively. It may start to deteriorate again.
Calm only apparent
The problems after families are felt above all by large companies, which do not have the right to draw on the maximum energy prices. But it is precisely in these weeks and months that many of them close their fixation. And they discover that now they will have to buy electricity and gas at many times higher prices, even twelve times. Some companies have already chosen to stop or move operations for this reason.
It is precisely the next steps taken by companies that could trigger some form of crisis in the Czech Republic. As some of them have pointed out, if energy prices here are so high that they are not competitive, they will simply move elsewhere. However, this would understandably mean the loss of a significant number of jobs.
For example, the head of Kofola Jannis Samaras views the current situation very critically. In an interview for the Seznam Zprávy server, he described how dangerous the situation is today. On the one hand, predictions that are expected to be significantly worse do not come true. Many companies are still able to ramp up production and are apparently doing well. In reality, however, he’s a harbinger of impending trouble.
Companies prefer to keep quiet about problems
For example, Kofola had to raise the price of its drinks, which are very popular in the Czech Republic, several times. Customers have accepted this so far, but at some point there may be a sticking point. Prices will have to be raised further as the costs of literally everything are rising, whether it be energy, glass for bottles or carbon dioxide for fizzy drinks.
According to the head of Kofola, we got into a big problem. At the same time, it should be solved very comprehensively and on many levels, and not just with quick steps, such as the energy limit, which, by the way, does not even apply to a large part of industry.
The entrepreneur says the true state of the companies may surprise many. Many of them prefer not to talk about their problems so that in the end it doesn’t hurt them. The subsequent development for the worse can then be unexpectedly rapid.
Photo: Shutterstock
