Plenković: The situation with the sale of gas surpluses needs to be fully clarified

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Thursday that the situation regarding HEP’s sale of gas surpluses will be fully clarified and that decisions will be made if necessary, emphasizing that the entire situation has no effect on citizens.

– We will analyze the situation based on the reports provided to us by Plinacro, HERA, HROTE, and HEP, and a parliamentary discussion will be held. We want to clarify the situation completely and, if necessary, make some decisions – said Plenković at the beginning of the Government session.

He emphasized that this entire situation has no effect on citizens, and that the price of gas remains the same, as does electricity.

He stated that more will be said on this topic at today’s meeting of the Economic Committee of the Croatian Parliament, where, he said, Minister of Economy Davor Filipović, CEO of HEP Frane Barbarić, and the leading figures of Plinacro, HERA, and HROTE will be present.

Plenković reminded that the energy crisis was caused last year by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which led to a significant increase in the price of gas and other energy sources.

Thanks to the Government’s decisions, Plenković said, the prices of gas and electricity in Croatia have remained acceptable.

– The Government’s policy aimed to preserve social cohesion and prevent social fracture. It has completely succeeded in that. In energy terms, the goal was to keep prices acceptable and ensure sufficient energy supplies. There has always been enough gas, electricity, and energy. Prices have been affordable – he said.

In this, Plenković added, HEP played an important role. This state company was an instrument for ensuring price stability and sufficient quantities of gas during that crisis.

In June, there was a surplus of gas at HEP, and gas was sold significantly below the price at which it was purchased.

– The Government amended the relevant Regulation and stopped that – said Plenković, reiterating that an analysis will be conducted on how the situation arose in June