The Quality of Our Lives Will Depend on How Sustainable We Are

The speed and scale of the fall in energy investment activity in 2020 were unprecedented, according to International Energy Agency (IEA), a Paris-based intergovernmental organisation. As companies reined in spending, and project workers were confined to their homes, planned investments were also delayed, deferred, or shelved, and supply chains interrupted. The COVID 19 crisis and measures taken to slow its spread have had a profound impact on energy demand, the likes of which have not been seen for 70 years, IEA states. In its Global Energy Review issued in April 2020 and assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global energy system, IEA expected that overall energy demand would fall by 6% in 2020, while electricity demand was set to decline by 5%. In contrast, global carbon dioxide emissions were expected to drop by almost 8% compared with 2019.

During the pandemic, traffic curbs and mobility restriction measures accompanied drastic drops in economic activity. Sales of motor fuels fell. The Petrol Group, one of the largest businesses in the Adriatic region, responded comprehensively to the changed situation.

Petrol generates more than 80 per cent of its revenues from energy trading, while the remainder is derived through trade in consumer goods and services. Both energy and trade are considered highly competitive industries. In addition to global industry trends, Petrol Group’s operations are influenced by several other, often interdependent factors, notes Salkič. Among the most important are the movement of energy prices and the gyrations of the US dollar, both a reflection of global economic conditions. During the pandemic, Petrol prioritized the health and safety of its employees and customers, as well as ensuring a reliable supply of energy. They addressed risks very directly. The measures followed the provision of sufficient liquidity. “Reducing and managing costs, all the while optimizing supply chains and sales outlets and thus ensuring the profitability of points of sale, have all proven necessary,” states Salkič. They also ensured a sufficient number of employees was present at points of sale. At the same time, other employees, wherever possible, worked from home, and due to a reduced volume of business, some employees were put on temporary leave.

Petrol envisions a future of energy independence and efficiency, but also the growing share of renewable energy sources. According to Salkič, reducing the carbon footprint is the company’s top priority. Their sustainable orientation is based on three pillars: on being a low-carbon energy company, on establishing partnerships with employees and the social environment, and on operating in accordance with the principles of the circular economy.

Salkič believes the economic situation in 2021 will be significantly affected by the post-pandemic economic recovery, which will also be reflected in oil prices. In the markets in which they operate, both local economic conditions (economic growth, price inflation, rising consumption and production) and state regulation of energy prices and market structure, exert a significant impact on business operations. The impact of a pandemic is difficult to disentangle from the measures taken to contain it.

Business players in the energy market are facing major challenges and changes. First, they are undergoing an extremely demanding systemic transition to renewables. “At the same time, there are major changes in the behaviour of end customers, who are becoming increasingly active and environmentally aware,”
says Salkič. At the same time, environmentally- friendly practices are official EU policy when it comes to the so-called green economic recovery, which is taking place under the auspices of the European Commission. Activities in this area are numerous, from energy efficiency in industry and the commercial sector to energy renovation projects in buildings. “These are integrated energy services for industry, which will lead to increased energy efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions,” explains Salkič.

But there is another area with great potential: sustainable mobility. Petrol focuses on the provision of services related to the establishment, the management, and the maintenance of infrastructure for charging electric vehicles, explains Salkič. Also, the group provides solution for the implementation and billing of electric vehicle charging and support. “In the field of mobility, we are developing services related to new concepts and forms of mobility such as vehicles as a service,” adds Salkič, who also says the company has ambitious goals for 2021, including a new strategy for the next five years. They are also incorporating the lessons of the current pandemic, which has radically changed the way we do business in a matter of months.