Gas storage tanks and their importance

On Thursday, 13 November, a planned team-building day was held for employees of MND Energy Storage and MND Gas Storage, offering a combination of good food, sporting activities and a relaxing evening programme. The event was divided into three parts – a joint lunch, a badminton tournament and a guided wine tasting.

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.

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.

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.

This report brings you the first part of the interesting winemakers who work in our group. We start in Čejkovice, where father and son, Jiří and Petr Št'avík, cultivate their lines. Petr works in MND as the head of the mechanical department and Jiří is the manager of the Dambořice storage facility.

On Friday, March 28, after lunch, we left our desks and went for a completely new experience - to try curling. This seemingly quiet sport, known mainly from TV screens, quickly convinced us that "sliding stones on ice" is no fun.

At the end of 2024, the five-year contract between Russia's Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz for gas transit to Europe expired. Ukraine had previously announced that it was not interested in extending the contract, so the gas flow was stopped as of 1 January 2025.

In October, colleagues from MND Energy Storage set out to help people affected by the floods that swept through the Czech Republic and caused particularly severe damage in northern Moravia. Magda Lengálová has written a report for the readers of the Report, which can also serve as an inspiration - for example, to help the damaged municipality financially.

MND Gas Storage experienced a difficult period in 2023, due to the termination of a long-term storage contract, the non-performance of contractual obligations by the gas storage provider Gazprom Export and the subsequent uncertainty in the accelerated sale of unexpectedly vacant underground gas storage (UGS) capacity. On top of all the commercial problems, technical ones were added to the mix, and after testing the silica gel drying system, not all design parameters were achieved. The company needed additional capital to invest in feed heaters and to fine-tune the entire drying technology. At this stage, the company's share capital was increased and the subscription for new shares provided the necessary capital for the project.

While the MND Party took place in Lužice on 13 June, the traditional customer meeting organised by MND Energy Storage and MND Gas Storage took place in Rakvice in the majestic Dominant Wine House. The event was attended by approximately 25 customers who came to find out what new products we are planning, as well as to enjoy delicious food and great wine.

"Section Commander to Strike Commander: we're starting to cool the probe!" comes over the radio from a fireman wearing a breathing mask. Streams of water from the fire hoses spray the production cross of the probe, from which gas escapes spontaneously to prevent ignition. Dozens of firefighters are on the scene, water tankers are running one after the other, an ambulance is on the scene and a drone is monitoring the situation.

MND Energy Storage is participating in the joint project "The Effect Of Hydrogen In Mixture With Natural Gas In Underground Gas Storage Facilities On The Integrity Of Metallic Materials".