Linde Gas is one of the large energy consumers that have been exempted from the payment of green certificates in an undisclosed ratio, but the effects of the exemption were mild, told energynomics.ro the general manager for Romania, Bulgaria and Serbia, Ciprian Islai.
“The effects were mild, and it helped more our customers. Because whatever we have got was offered to our customers,” said Islai.
The government decision to offer an exemption of up to 85% from the payment of green certificates (GC) helped large consumer increase their profit numbers. At Linde Gas, on a highly competitive market, the exemption was transferred into better pricing for the clients – and some of the largest clients are ArcelorMittal Galati, which also obtained an exemption form the GCs payment, and OMV Petrom.
At the same time, Linde invests more into new technologies, as the changes in the energy industry forced the power consumer to find solutions for energy efficiency.
“The oil price affected most industries so we came with solutions – investments in technology, in gas supply systems. The investment budget for 2016 is of more than 10 million euro,” also said Islai. Linde Gas obtained last year a profit figure of 30 million euro, and invested so far in Romania about 315 million euro during the 20-year presence in this country. The annual revenue of 2015 of 118 million euro will have a similar figure in 2016, of 118.5 million, while the number of employees will reach 500 by year-end, from 465 last year.
Among Linde’s clients is the much-indebted state company Oltchim, but it has no debts to the Linde, said Islai.
“It’s a pity Oltchim functions at reduced capacity. I hope it will be privatized soon”, Islai explained.
Linde is also expanding its shared service center in Timisoara, the number of employees growing from 80 last year to 105 in 2016, although “it’s not easy to find available candidates”.
Asked by energynomics if Linde fears the Chinese competition, Islai said:
“Our industry is capex intensive. The company’s investments versus the number of employees is totally different from other industries, such as the automotive one. We don’t need so many employees, but the investments are huge. For a Chinese company to enter the market, it will not be easy, they have to invest tens of millions into a new factory. Our investment in Galati was of some 100 million euro, as it makes sense to be closer to the customers.”
The market leader in the domestic industrial gas market, Linde Gaz Romania is part of The Linde Group, one of the leading gas and engineering companies in the world. With revenues of about 18 billion euro in the financial year 2015, Linde Group has approximately 65,000 employees in more than 100 countries.
