SUEZ strengthens its position in the Czech Republic with a new 10-year water and wastewater contract for 17 municipalities in Central Bohemia

The signing of the contract is the final step of a collaboration started 3 years ago between SUEZ and local municipalities. It takes place following the creation of the voluntary association of municipalities Společná voda, its entry into VHS Benešov as a 50 % shareholder, and the conclusion of a long-term contractual relationship between the operating company VHS Benešov and the voluntary association of municipalities Společná voda.

This new 10-year contract in Central Bohemia will allow for water supply and wastewater collection for 50 000 inhabitants. It will include solutions to preserve water such as the deployment of smart meters in the region.

It represents a further strengthening of SUEZ's position in the Czech Republic, which has been operating there for more than 30 years. SUEZ is present in the Czech water industry through four dedicated companies: the Brno Waterworks and Sewerage Company, in Brno and its surroundings, the Ostrava Waterworks and Sewerage Company, in Ostrava, the Karlovy Vary Waterworks and Sewerage Company, mainly in the Karlovy Vary and Tachov regions and the VHS Benešov a.s. in the Benešov and Vlašim regions.

Together, these four water companies supply drinking water as well as collecting and treating wastewater for 1 million inhabitants of the Czech Republic. They employ almost 1,700 employees and will have a turnover of almost 200 million euros in 2022. SUEZ also participated in consortiums for the construction of two major wastewater treatment plants in the country, the Brno-Modřice wastewater treatment plant and the the Prague-Troja wastewater treatment plant.

Jaroslav Hlavnicka, Chairman of the voluntary Association of municipalities called Společná voda, commented: "We are very pleased that our newly formed voluntary association of municipalities was able to enter the operating water company VHS Benešov a.s. with capital and at the same time to conclude a new contract with this company for 10 years. I am of the opinion that both will contribute to the long-term stabilization of the water industry in our region and to the provision of quality services to our citizens. We have had very good experiences with VHS Benešov and I believe that this will continue to be the case in the future."