Storage 2026: capacity sales and security
Although 2025 was by no means an easy year for MND’s storage companies, as the prediction that developments in the gas market could have a negative impact on the storage capacity market proved entirely accurate, all three of our storage companies successfully met their targets and thus managed to generate the expected added value.
We were also able to fulfil all our investment plans, including the key investment in the Safety Control System (BŘS) at the Uhřice gas storage facility. Thanks to this investment, the Uhřice gas storage facility now fully complies with European safety standards. MND Gas Storage, a. s., also completed a very important refinancing project and successfully signed a new loan agreement with Česká spořitelna.
Plans for 2026
As was the case last year, three main areas of focus are emerging for 2026.
By far the most significant of these is to successfully sell the storage capacity of the Dambořice underground gas storage facility for the 2026 storage year (for the period 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027), and potentially for further storage periods up to 2030. As MND Gas Storage’s relatively ambitious financial plan, looking ahead to 2030, is linked to the fulfilment of this task, the company will seek business partners for medium- and long-term contracts to ensure the company’s long-term stability.
It is also anticipated that the company will utilise all the opportunities for the sale of storage capacity newly provided by national legislation (e.g. the sale of part of the storage capacity outside the auction system on a ‘first come, first served’ basis), and may also make use of other commercial instruments from its portfolio.
The second very important area of tasks is the implementation of EU regulations, or rather national legislation, responding to the EU ‘Cybersecurity’ Regulation (known by the acronym NIS 2), across all three of our storage companies (including MND Energy Storage Germany). At the same time, both Czech storage companies must be prepared for the fact that they have been newly classified as critical infrastructure companies. Compliance with the EU regulation on methane leaks (known by the acronym LDAR) remains a top priority.
The third set of tasks relates to the technical readiness of gas storage facilities to inject and withdraw gas at any time; these are tasks that require the timely implementation of investments and the flawless execution of ‘major’ maintenance.
Other articles
After work fun? After work, the vineyard!
Václav Kratochvil works as an operator on the gas storage facility in Uhřice. In addition, he farms a two-hectare vineyard, where he takes care of about ten thousand heads of vines. When he goes to work, he walks - the journey takes him fifteen minutes. Just walk up the hill, walk through his vineyard and there he is. On the way back, he sees what needs to be done. "I really enjoy working on the hopper. But working in the vineyard, that's what fulfills me. I could be here all day and be happy. It clears your head," he says.
No-fly zone above the gas storage facilities
Underground gas storage facilities (UGS) are a key part of the Czech Republic's energy infrastructure. Due to their strategic importance and potential risks, these facilities are protected not only by physical but also by air security measures - including no-fly zones.
New premises for the Energy Storage Business Dispatch Centre
At the beginning of April this year, the MND ES business control room was moved to a completely newly renovated office. The former workshop of the MaR department on the third floor of the old building in Hodonín was used for this purpose. The reconstruction was carried out in cooperation with MND, a. s., where MND financed the construction works and provided all IT support, including the installation of a new technological network or connection of the main dispatching point to the central UPS. MND ES then provided the equipment at a cost of CZK 650,000 excluding VAT.