(2015/C 92/03)(Dz.U.UE C z dnia 19 marca 2015 r.)
Decyzją nr 543/14/COL z dnia 10 grudnia 2014 r., zamieszczoną w autentycznej wersji językowej na stronach następujących po niniejszym streszczeniu, Urząd Nadzoru EFTA wszczął postępowanie na mocy części I art. 1 ust. 2 protokołu 3 do Porozumienia pomiędzy państwami EFTA w sprawie ustanowienia Urzędu Nadzoru i Trybunału Sprawiedliwości. Władze Islandii otrzymały stosowną informację wraz z kopią wyżej wymienionej decyzji.
Urząd Nadzoru EFTA wzywa niniejszym państwa EFTA, państwa członkowskie UE oraz inne zainteresowane strony do zgłaszania uwag w sprawie omawianego środka w terminie jednego miesiąca od daty publikacji niniejszego zaproszenia na poniższy adres Urzędu Nadzoru EFTA:
EFTA Surveillance Authority
Registry
Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat 35
1040 Bruxelles/Brussel
BELGIQUE/BELGIË
Uwagi zostaną przekazane władzom islandzkim. Zainteresowane strony zgłaszające uwagi mogą wystąpić z odpowiednio uzasadnionym pisemnym wnioskiem o objęcie ich tożsamości klauzulą poufności.
STRESZCZENIE
Procedura
W dniach 15 i 17 kwietnia 2014 r. - dla pewności prawa i zgodnie z częścią I art. 1 ust. 3 protokołu 3 - władze islandzkie zgłosiły Urzędowi umowę na dostawę energii elektrycznej zawartą w dniu 17 marca 2014 r. przez krajowe przedsiębiorstwo energetyczne Landsvirkjun i spółkę PCC Bakki Silicon hf. W piśmie z dnia 19 maja 2014 r. Urząd zwrócił się do władz islandzkich o dodatkowe informacje na temat cen energii elektrycznej i niezbędnych inwestycji w rozbudowę sieci, jakich dokona operator systemu przesyłowego. Dnia 19 czerwca 2014 r. Urząd otrzymał częściową odpowiedź od przedsiębiorstwa Landsvirkjun. W dniu 22 lipca 2014 r. Urząd wystosował drugie wezwanie do udzielenia informacji, na które w dniu 23 września 2014 r. otrzymał odpowiedź od przedsiębiorstwa Landsvirkjun, a w dniu 20 października 2014 r. - od władz islandzkich.
Ocena środka
PCC Bakki Silicon hf. jest spółką z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością utworzoną w Islandii, należącą do międzynarodowego holdingu PCC SE w Duisburgu, Niemcy. Spółka zamierza zbudować i eksploatować na północnym wschodzie wyspy energochłonny zakład produkcji krzemu metalicznego. W tym celu zawarła umowę z należącym do państwa przedsiębiorstwem energetycznym Landsvirkjun na zakup 58 megawatów mocy elektrycznej przez okres 15 lat.
Dla pewności prawa Islandia zgłosiła umowę do Urzędu. Aby zapewnić dostawy energii elektrycznej do zakładu wytwórczego krzemu metalicznego, należące do państwa przedsiębiorstwo energetyczne zbuduje elektrownię geotermiczną. Obliczenia rentowności elektrowni przedstawione przez Landsvirkjun pokazują, że przy narosłych już kosztach jej budowy i po uwzględnieniu planowanych dochodów z umowy na dostawy energii elektrycznej projekt nie jest rentowny. W związku z powyższym Urząd ma wątpliwości co do tego, czy krajowe przedsiębiorstwo energetyczne, zawierając umowę na dostawy energii elektrycznej na obecnych warunkach, działało jak inwestor prywatny.
Ponadto operator systemu przesyłowego Landsnet zawarł ze spółką PCC Bakki Silicon hf. umowę na przesył uzgodnionej mocy elektrycznej, w odniesieniu do której to umowy rodzą się wątpliwości co do tego, czy jest ona zgodna z islandzkimi ustawowymi przepisami dotyczącymi zasad pokrywania kosztów przez nowego energochłonnego użytkownika podłączającego się do krajowej sieci przesyłowej; odnośne koszty pokrywane są za pomocą (i) opłaty dodatkowej z tytułu obniżenia napięcia przesyłowego (opłaty dodatkowej za obniżenie napięcia) oraz (ii) wkładu na pokrycie kosztów dodatkowych powstałych dla innych użytkowników sieci w wyniku podłączenia nowego energochłonnego użytkownika (wkład do systemu). Zwolnienia mogą stanowić pomoc państwa.
Wniosek
W związku z powyższym Urząd ma wątpliwości co do tego, czy warunki umowy na dostawy energii elektrycznej, opłata dodatkowa za obniżenie napięcia oraz wkład do systemu przewidziane w umowie na przesył energii zawierają elementy pomocy państwa w rozumieniu art. 61 ust. 1 Porozumienia EOG, które są zgodne z art. 61 ust. 3 tego porozumienia.
W związku z tym Urząd podjął decyzję o wszczęciu formalnego postępowania wyjaśniającego zgodnie z częścią I art. 1 ust. 2 protokołu 3 do Porozumienia pomiędzy państwami EFTA w sprawie ustanowienia Urzędu Nadzoru i Trybunału Sprawiedliwości w odniesieniu do umowy na dostawy energii elektrycznej oraz w odniesieniu do opłaty dodatkowej za obniżenie napięcia i wkładu do systemu przewidzianych w umowie na przesył energii zawartej z PCC Bakki Silicon hf.
Zainteresowane strony wzywa się do nadsyłania uwag w terminie jednego miesiąca od publikacji niniejszego zawiadomienia w Dzienniku Urzędowym Unii Europejskiej.
EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY DECISION
No 543/14/COL
of 10 December 2014
to initiate the formal investigation procedure with regard to the Power Contract and the Transmission Agreement for the PCC Silicon Metal Plant at Bakki
(Iceland)
[non-confidential version]
THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY ('THE AUTHORITY'),
HAVING REGARD to the Agreement on the European Economic Area ('the EEA Agreement'), in particular to Articles 61 to 63 and Protocol 26,
HAVING REGARD to the Agreement between the EFTA States on the Establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of Justice ('the Surveillance and Court Agreement'), in particular to Article 24,
HAVING REGARD to Protocol 3 to the Surveillance and Court Agreement ('Protocol 3'), in particular to Article 1(3) of Part I and Articles 4(4) and 6 of Part II,
HAVING REGARD to the consolidated version of the Authority's Decision No 195/04/COL of 14 July 2004 on the implementing provisions referred to under Article 27 of Part II of Protocol 3,
Whereas:
1 Event No 705821 (ref. FJR14040039/17.4.1).
2 Events Nos 705962-4 (ref. 55-2014).
3 Event No 708675.
4 Events Nos 711527, 711529-32, 711536, 711538-40, 711544 and 711546 (ref. 57-2014/00.12).
5 Event No 716298.
6 Event No 723009 (ref. 57-2014/00.12).
7 Events Nos 726153-54 and 726156-58 (ref. FJR14040039/17.4.1 and 2014-04-20/10.5).
8 Event No 726504.
10 See Decision No 111/14/COL paragraphs 10 and 11.
11 Event No 705963.
12 Event No 726156.
14 Act No 59/1965 was later repealed and replaced by Act No 42/1983.
15 Information from the website of Landsvirkjun.
16 According to Act No 21/2011 amending the Landsvirkjun Act. See also Decision No 302/09/COL proposing appropriate measures for Landsvirkjun.
17 See Decision No 392/11/COL, paragraph 11 and Event No 705962, page 1.
18 Landsnet is owned by the following state owned utilities: Landsvirkjun 64,73 %, RARIK (Iceland State Electricity) 22,51 %, Orkuveita Reykjavíkur (Reykjavík Energy) 6,78 % and Orkubú Vestfjarða (Westfjord Power Company) 5,98 %.
20 See paragraph 7 of Decision No 111/14/COL.
21 These municpalities are: Norðurþing, Þingeyjarsveit, Skútustaðahreppur, Tjörneshreppur, Svalbarðshreppur and Langanesbyggð, which toghether form Þingeyjarsýsla county
22 Event No 705962, page 3-4.
24 See Decision No 111/14/COL, paragraphs 7-9.
25 Minutes of Landsvirkjun board meeting 14.3.2014. Event No 705964, Attachment 10, page 2.
26 The Authority notes that a 66 kV underground cable was constructed from Þeistareykir in 2013 to provide Landsvirkjun with working electricity for the area and for a future connection with the regional grid in North-East Iceland.
28 Internal note to Landsvirkjun's CEO, dated 4.3.2014, page 10, presented at the company's board meeting on 6.3.2014. Event No 711544.
29 See also an internal memorandum regarding the draft 2012 Power Contract, dated 23.5.2012 presented at Landsvirkjun's board meeting 25.5.2012. Event No 711538.
30 Event No 711544, Attachment 8, page 28 and 31. Estimated NPV is in the range USD [...] to [...] million.
31 Internal note from risk management division of Landsvirkjun on the Power Contract, pages 2 and 8, dated 4.3.2014, presented at a board meeting on 6.3.2014. Events Nos 711532 and 711544.
32 Event No 705964, page 10.
33 Table 1 in Annex 1 to the Transmission Agreement. Event No 726156.
34 Minutes from Landsvirkjun's board meeting 21.2.2014, item 8. Event 705964, Attachment 3.
35 Event No 705964, page 4.
36 Event No 705964, page 9.
37 According to information provided on 19.6.2014 by Landsvirkjun. Event No 711527. Already accrued costs in preparing the harnessing at the Þeistareykir site since 1999 were USD [...]million, according to internal Landsvirkjun documents from March 2014.
38 Event No 711527, page 2.
39 Event No 705964.
40 See letter received 20.10.2014, page 4. Event No 726154.
41 Event No 705962.
42 Event No 726154.
43 Op. cit.
44 Op. cit.
47 See breakdown in paragraph 113 below.
48 Event No 705821.
49 Event No 705962.
50 The Icelandic authorities have referred to Decisions Nos 391/11/COL and 392/11/COL in this regard. Event No 705821.
51 Event No 705962.
52 Op. cit.
53 According to settled case-law, classification as aid requires that all the conditions set out in the provision should be fulfilled, see Case C-142/87 Belgium v. Commission ('Tubemeuse') [1990] ECR I-959.
54 Case C-482/99 France v Commission (Stardust Marine) [2002] ECR I-4397, paragraphs 50-59.
55 Op. cit., paragraph 57.
56 Case C-482/99 France v Commission (Stardust Marine), cited above, paragraph 52.
57 Op. cit., paragraph 53.
58 See Opinion of Advocate General Jacobs, Case C-482/99 France v Commission (Stardust Marine) cited above, paragraph 67.
59 Case C-482/99 France v Commission (Stardust Marine), cited above, paragraph 56.
60 The Authority concluded on this in its Decisions Nos 391/11/COL and 392/11/COL. Cf. Opening speech of the minister of Industry and Commerce at the time, at the International Aluminium and Power Conference, on 4.3.2004, available at http://www.atvinnuvegaraduneyti.is/radherra/raedurVS/nr/364: 'For now over 40 years it has been the policy of all governments to promote the utilisation of the country's clean and renewable hydro and geothermal energy resources for sustainable power development [...] By promoting the utilisation of these resources, we are diversifying the industrial activity and economy and improving the living standard of the people We further aim to expand merchandise exports and stimulate foreign investments, such as in the primary aluminum industry Intensive energy marketing efforts initiated by the Ministry for Industry and Commerce, particularly in the last 15 years, have brought about large investments in the power and energy intensive industry, which gradually have put Iceland on the world map as a serious alternative location for light metal production'.
61 See the Opening speech of the current Minister of Industry and Commerce, at Landsvirkjun's autumn conference on 13.11.2013, in the Authority's translation: 'I know that many of these investment projects will be, and some are already, on Landsvirkjun's desk. In the light of what I said earlier about the urgent need for increased investment I must admit that I am anxious to see the projects materialize [...] Recently the State entered into an investment agreement with the German company PCC on a silicon metal plant at Bakki, Húsavík. The PCC has been in discussions with Landsvirkjun on the purchase of power and a contract has been signed with conditions. The project is already advanced and it will have a huge impact on the society in the Northeast in terms of job creation and the more general positive economic impact. It is therefore important that a power contract will be concluded quickly and efficiently, and that it will be an onset for the future', available in Icelandic at http://www.atvinnuvegaraduneyti.is/radherra/raedur-og-greinar-REA/nr/7883: 'Ég veit að mörg þessara fjárfestingaverkefna rata inn á borð Landsvirkjunar og sum eru þar til umföllunar. Í ljósi þess sem hér var sagt um brýna nauðsyn aukinnar fjárfestingar verð ég að viðurkenna að ég er orðin óþreyjufull og vil fara að sjá árangur og að verkefnin verði að veruleika [...] N m lega var gerður fjárfestingasamingur við þýska fyrirtækið PCC um kísilver á Bakka við Húsavík. PCC hefur átt í viðræðum við Landsvirkjun u orkukaup og undirritað raforkusamning með fyrirvörum. Verkefnið er vel á veg komið og mun skipta samfélagið á NA-landi miklu hvað atvinnuuppbyggingu varðar, sem og að hafa almennt jákvæð efna-hagsleg áhrif Mikilvægt er því að frágangur raforkusamnings gangi hratt og vel, og verði upptaktur að því sem koma skal.'
62 See for example discussion in an internal note dated 4.3.2014 from the marketing and business development unit of Landsvirkjun to the CEO, page 10, and the CEO's memorandum dated 4.3.2104, page 2, both documents presented at a board meeting on 6.3.2014 (Event No 711544).
63 Case 78/76 Steinke & Weinlig v Germany [1977] ECR-595, paragraph 21; Case C-379/98 PreussenElektra [2001] ECR I-2099, paragraph 58.
64 Case 78/76, Steinike & Weinlig, cited above, paragraph 21.
65 Op. cit. paragraph 22.
66 Case T-139/09, ECLI:EU:T:2012:496, paragraphs 63 and 64.
67 Case C-206/06 Essent [2008] ECR I-5497. Reference is also made to Case C-262/12 Association Vent de Colère! Fédération nationale, not yet published, ECLI:EU:C:2013:851.
68 An internal memorandum on the transmission system development in the North-East of Iceland in connection with the planned industrial site at Bakki, dated 22.5.2012, page 2, presented at Landsvirkjun's board meeting on 25.5.2012 as Attachment 5. Event No 711538.
69 However, the Authority understands, from information provided by Landsvirkjun, that it does in fact not pay any System Contribution to Landsnet for connecting the Power Station to the grid. Moreover, no such System Contribution on behalf of Landsvirkjun appears to be taken into account in the profitability calculations provided for the Power Station.
70 See the Authority's decision No 305/09/COL on power sales agreement entered into by Notodden municipality and Becromal Norway AS.
71 Case C-39/94, SFEI v La Poste, [2006] ECR I-3547, at paragraph 60.
72 This principle is explained in the Authority's State aid guidelines Part VI: Rules on public service compensation, state ownership of enterprises and aid to public enterprises, Application of state aid provisions to public enterprises in the manufacturing sector. The Authority's State aid guidelines are available at: http://www.eftasurv.int/state-aid/legal-framework/state-aid-guidelines/
73 Cf. for example Opinion of Advocate General Jacobs, Joined Cases C-278/92, C-279/92 and C-280/92 Spain v the Commission [1994] ECR I-4103, at paragraph 28.
74 See the Authority's State aid guidelines, Part VI, cited above, paragraph 5(1).
75 See Case T-366/00 Scott v Commission [2007] ECR II-797, paragraph 134.
76 Op. cit. paragraph 158.
77 Events Nos 705964 and 711527.
78 Op. cit.
79 See for example an internal note dated 4.3.2014 from Landsvirkjun's risk management division to the CEO, presented at a board meeting on 6.3.2014. Event No 711544. See also Events Nos 705964 and 711527.
80 See for example an internal note dated 4.3.2014 from Landsvirkjun's risk management division to the CEO, presented at a board meeting on 6.3.2014. Event No 711544.
81 Event No 711527, page 1.
82 See page 68 of a draft report prepared in May 2009 by Landsvirkjun on its power plants: 'Helstu heimildir um virkjanir Landsvirkjunar og tengd réttindi', in the context of the work of a committee appointed by the Prime Minister according to Act No 58/2008. The Authority was provided with this document in the context of Case No 64710 on the use of land and natural resources by electricity companies in Iceland.
83 See Figure 4 above.
84 Internal memorandum on transmission of electricity from North-East region to South-West region, prepared by Landsvirkjun's development division 27.2.2014, presented at a board meeting on 6.3.2014. Event No 711544.
85 Event No 705964, page 4.
86 Incorporated into Annex IV (point (22) to the EEA Agreement by Joint Committee Decision No 146/2005 of 2 December 2005.
87 See Recital 18 of the Directive.
88 See ENTSO-E: Overview of transmission tariffs in Europe: Synthesis 2014. June 2014. The main features of charging mechanism in force for first connection to transmission grid are described in Appendix 6: First connection charges.
89 Event No 726154.
91 The Authority observes that it does not have the information on whether the line will in fact be operated at 132 or 220 kV at the outset, and the extent to which this would affect the Step-down Surcharge or the System Contribution.
92 According to Article 12a(7) of the Electricity Act, as amended by Act No 19/2011.
93 The Authority's informal translation. The original text reads as follows: 'Flutningsfyrirtækinu er heimilt að afhenda raforku til stórnotenda á 66 kV eða lægri spennu enda standi sérstök gjaldtaka undir viðbótarkostnaði.'
94 Event No 726154, page 8.
95 See formula in subsection I.2.3.6.2 of this Decision.
96 Event No 726154, page 8.
97 Event No 726154, page 8.
98 Event No 726154.
99 Op. cit., page 7. The Icelandic authorities have not provided information as to the breakdown of the asset base between the energy-intensive part and the DSO part.
100 Event No 726154.
101 Event No 726154.
102 Op. cit. See also subsection I.2.3.6 in this Decision.
104 Event No 726154.
105 Internal memorandum on the development of the transmission system in the North-East of Iceland in relation to the planned industrial site at Bakki, dated 22.5.2012, page 2, presented at Landsvirkjun's board meeting 25.5.2012. Event No 711538.
106 Op. cit.
107 Op. cit.
108 Event No 726154.
109 See also paragraph 126 above and footnote 103.
110 Case C-372/97 Italy v Commission [2004] ECR I-3679, paragraph 44; Case C-66/02 Italy v Commission [2005] ECR I-10901, paragraph 111; Case C-148/04 Unicredito Italiano [2005] ECR I-11137, paragraph 54; and Joined Cases C-197/11 and C-203/11 Libert, ECLI:EU:C:2013:288, paragraph 76.
111 See for instance cases C-310/99 Italian Republic v Commission [2002] ECR I-2289, paragraph 84, and T-55/99 Confederación Española de Transporte de Mercanias (CETM) [2000] ECR II-03207, paragraph 86; and Joined Cases C-197 and C-203/11, Libert, cited above, paragraph 77.
112 Case C-66/02 Italy v Commission, cited above, paragraphs 115 and 117: Case C-148/04 Unicredito Italiano, cited above, paragraphs 56 and 58; and Joined Cases C-197 and C-203/11, Libert, cited above, paragraph 78.
113 Case C-156/98 Germany v Commission [2000] ECR I-6857, paragraphs 30-31; Case T-459/93 Siemens SA v Commission [1995] ECR II-1675, paragraph 48; and Case T-396/08 Freistaat Sachsen und Land Sachsen-Anhalt v Commission [2010] ECR II-141, paragraphs 46 to 48.