Preliminary pre-audited results of Lietuvos Energijos Gamyba over the course of twelve months in 2016: more efficient activity allowed to counterbalance the loss of revenue and to operate more profitably

Lietuvos Energijos Gamyba (the Company) hereby announces the preliminary pre-audited financial indicators of the Company over the course of twelve months in 2016:

The cancellation of the supported electricity production quota as of the beginning of 2016 was the main reason for the loss of revenue of the Company. For this reason, the Elektrėnai complex produced 0.491 TWh of electricity in 2016, i.e. 54 per cent less than in 2015 (1.067 TWh). As a result of decreased production, variable costs incurred by the Company were significantly reduced (-43 per cent) as well. In addition, due to efficient organisation and performance of repair works and constant improvement of processes for operations, the Company managed to significantly reduce operating costs as well. Costs reduction in the Elektrėnai complex, which met public service obligations (PSO) and provided the tertiary active power reserve service in 2016, amounted to almost 10 per cent, which grants direct benefits to electricity consumers because it contributes to the electricity rate reduction.

The professionalism of the Company’s employees and their ability to adapt in a flexible way to a rapidly changing market situation helped to use the most efficient device Combined Cycle Gas Turbine unit (CCGT) in the Elektrėnai complex when it was particularly necessary to contribute to the stabilisation of electricity prices on the wholesale market. In 2016, the CCGT was switched on as many as 58 times. In comparison, throughout 2015 it was switched on only 14 times. Produced competitive electricity by CCGT was sold on the market and over the year it has allowed to earn nearly EUR 6 million gross profit which will be given to the PSO tariff reduction for consumers.

As the market situation changed, hydroelectric power plants managed by the Company operated more efficiently and flexibly; after the launch of the new links to Sweden and Poland, the plants were faced with stronger competition. In 2016, Kaunas Algirdas Brazauskas' Hydroelectric Power Plant produced 0.363 TWh or 32 per cent more electricity than in 2015 (0.273 TWh). Production at Kruonis PSHP decreased by 22 per cent (from 0.665 TWh to 0.517 TWh); however, this power plant played a particularly important role in ensuring the safety of electricity supply when the operation of the “NordBalt” link was unstable. When the link was disconnected, particularly in the first half of 2016, Kruonis PSHP was the first to provide help: the emergency reserve of this power plant was activated 57 times in 2016 (20 times in 2015).

The increased scope of the secondary reserve service in 2016 improved the EBITDA result of the Company’s regulated activity, while the EBITDA indicator of commercial activities of the hydroelectric power plants, despite increased competition, was similar to 2015. However, the change in the Company’s EBITDA in 2016 in comparison with 2015 was substantially affected by the decisions of the   National Commission for Energy Control and Prices (NCC) related to the inspection of the Company’s activity in 2010–2012 and its recognition as very influential on the electricity production market. As a result of these decisions, financial reports of the Company in 2015 did not acknowledge a part of regulated activity income and this had a negative impact of EUR 15.9 million on the EBITDA indicator of the Company. Meanwhile, the same decisions in 2016 had a negative impact of EUR 5.6 million on the financial reports. As announced before, on 17 October 2016 the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania cancelled the resolution of the NCC according to which the Company was recognised as an entity with significant influence on the electricity production market and according to which the revenues from commercial activities of the Company were regulated.

The net profit of the Company in 2016 exceeded the profit from 2015 due to higher EBITDA and the impact of one-off factors: the sale of a part of the business at the beginning of 2016 (the recorded result before tax was EUR 19.8 million) and the reduction of the assets value recorded in 2015 related to the decision to terminate the operation of units 5 and 6, which caused a reduction of the net profit by EUR 30 million in 2015.

The annual report and statements of the Company on twelve months in 2016 will be available on 28 February 2017.