Czech Ministry of Transport will support rail freight carriers running on electricity with 9.3 million EUR

The Ministry of Transport announces a call for support for rail freight carriers in electric traction in 2021. The ROCET subsidy program has prepared 230 million CZK (9.3 million EUR), which will be used to compensate payments for renewable energy paid by the carriers last year.

“I see the provision of financial support for freight rail transport in electric traction as one of the important measures that can support the competitiveness of this ecological mode of transport compared to other modes of transport,” said Minister of Transport Martin Kupka, adding that with such financial support for rail freight transport the government did not count at all. “I agreed on the release of funds with the Minister of Finance, Zbyněk Stanjura. At this critical time, such assistance is most needed, “adds the minister.

Oldřich Sládek, the executive director of the ŽESNAD.CZ association, also welcomes the step of the ministry. “I appreciate that, despite the difficult budgetary situation, this support for rail freight by the state has been recognized as necessary. Fulfilling the policy of reducing emissions from transport is a joint task of both private companies and the state, “said Sládek.

The aim of the program is to contribute to the greater involvement of rail freight in electric traction in the transport of goods. The aid consists in compensating the renewable energy charge paid by the hauliers for the electricity consumed by the railway network operator. This measure is also intended to increase the competitiveness of rail freight.

Further help will follow

The ROCET program will be followed by the permanent exemption of hauliers using electricity to power vehicles from charges for renewable electricity sources. This should apply to both railways and cable cars, as well as transport companies operating metro, trams or trolleybuses. This measure has been in force since the beginning of the year, and the European Commission has yet to confirm that the fee waiver does not constitute unlawful public support.

The call for applications for support will be published by the Ministry of Transport on its website within the next week. Drawing conditions remain similar to last year.

Source: Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic