The companies of the group Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE) contributed more than 215 million euros to national and local budgets through taxes, according to an estimate made in December.
Operating among others as part of HSE, the largest producer of electricity in Slovenia, including renewable energy production, are the companies Dravske Elektrarne Maribor (DEM), which is the largest producer of electricity from renewable sources in Slovenia, Soske Elektrarne Nova Gorica (SENG), the Sostanj Thermal Power Plant (TES), which produced up to 70 % of the entire energy produced in the country last year despite the situation being aggravated by the pandemic, and the Premogovnik Velenje coal mine, which has supplied coal for electricity production in the TES throughout that period without disruptions.
Under the current estimate, with the purchase of emission coupons the HSE Group contributed more than 65 million euros in 2020 to the Climate Change Fund, which has been established in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act and the Public Finance Act, wherein funds for the mitigation of and adjustment to climate change and for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are being collected in a special account. In accordance with the spending program, the funds from the Climate Change Fund in the 2020-2023 period are earmarked, among other things, for the development of renewable energy sources and technologies that contribute to a transition to a safe and sustainable economy through low carbon dioxide emissions, funding of research and development of energy efficiency and clean technologies, promotion of a transition to low-emission transport and public transportation, and measures whose purpose is to increase energy efficiency and insulation or to provide financial support for addressing social issues in low- or medium-income households.
In addition to this, in 2020 HSE also paid 1.2 million euros for monitoring and 227,000 euros in other taxes for environmental protection, and 35,000 euros in environmental fees.
The companies of the HSE Group also paid other due taxes in 2020, thus paying more than 62 million euros in value added tax (VAT) into the state budget. The companies of the HSE Group also paid 18.9 million euros in corporate income tax into the state budget in 2020, and 4.6 million euros in commission to the state for loan guarantees.
