It would be difficult to summarize all the events that took place in the energy sector this year in a single article. NRGreport.com interviewed the leaders of the sector’s major players about the results, successes, and difficulties of 2023 and the challenges of 2024. The seventh part of our series features the insight of MET Central Europe’s Regional Chairman Gergely Szabó.
The energy sector in 2023 was defined by rising energy prices, a continuously changing regulatory environment and market needs, and extraordinary external factors. Market players had to stand their ground in an environment that was more volatile than ever. The editors were curious to see how companies faced the challenges of their respective areas, what successes they achieved during the year, and what they expect in 2024.
What were the greatest difficulties that the company had to face in 2023?
The biggest task we were given this year was clearly a consequence of the events of the previous year: we had to switch from our earlier intense crisis management mode, which required strong centralization, to a new form of normal operations.
When an industry breathes a sigh of relief after a multi-front crisis that lasted for a number of years, the most important thing to do is to draw conclusions and effectively develop a new operating model. That is what we did for a part of this year at MET, which required even a trading company to show a certain degree of introspection, review its systems and processes, and rethink them as necessary. We reintroduced certain things from our old model and there are also elements of our operations that have been completely overhauled.
What achievements is the company proudest of in 2023?
Here at MET, we are proudest of the fact that we not only survived the crisis involving the entire European energy segment, but also came out stronger by relying on our own resources. For us, that makes this period a very special story, where we gained enormous strength from our colleagues with their exceptional professional standards, who form a cohesive and effective team in critical situations.
And let’s not forget our partners: we cannot thank them enough for getting through the crisis years with us. We are past a number of difficult conversations, not to mention the fact that we had to place our cooperation on a new foundation a number of times, with the driving principle often being long-term stability. We believe in long-term partnerships in our relationships.
What does the company forecast for 2024? What are the greatest challenges?
MET Central Europe is focusing on three strategic topics in the coming period:
- Integrated product solutions: we can no longer think in terms of commodity trading or the world of renewables being the main profile – we have to connect these two and offer our partners complex, comprehensive product solutions that include traditional energy sources as well as services built on renewables and energy efficiency services.
- Digitalization: although there is much talk of the digital transition, in fact it is just beginning. We hope to receive a lot of support from the increasingly active generation Z labor market presence and the professional and innovative digital solutions they bring to the table.
- EU regulations: in the future, all industry players will face the serious challenge of finding efficient operating models and business strategies developed in line with regulations based on a strong, complex sustainability-driven