In the Czech Republic, SUEZ has acquired APBB, a company specialized in waste recovery into biogas

SUEZ announces today that it has acquired 60% of Anaerobic Power Biogas Benešov spol. s r.o. ("APBB"), a pioneer in methanization in the Czech Republic, allowing to convert waste into biogas. With its long-standing presence in the water sector, SUEZ is extending the scope of its activities in the Czech Republic by entering the municipal and industrial waste management and green energy production markets. CAYAN Holdings Limited ("CAYAN"), which currently holds 100% of the shares, will retain the remaining 40% stake in the company.

Founded in 2009 and based in Benesov, APBB treats biowaste from households, the food processing industry and supermarkets and restaurants in Prague and its suburbs, converting it into biogas, using an anaerobic digestion process (degradation of the organic matter by micro-organisms in a closed oxygen-free environment). The biogas is then converted into electricity, which is fed into the Czech national grid.

With 20 employees, APBB is one of the country's top anaerobic digestion plants. The company contributes to the circular economy by recovering 25,000 tons of waste a year. The plant produces an average of 8 GWh a year, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of a town of 3,000 inhabitants, avoiding the equivalent of more than 4,000 tons of CO₂. Furthermore, the digestate, the residue from methanization, is also used as a fertilizer for agriculture.

In line with the ecological transformation of the Czech Republic whose energy mix includes a large proportion of coal and oil, the methanization of organic waste and biowaste has a great potential, bringing green energy production and a reduction in fossil fuel consumption. Czech national regulations require municipalities to collect biowaste separately and to reduce the volume of biowaste going to landfill ("Waste Act" in force since January 2021).

A pioneer in the methanization sector in the Czech Republic, APBB has developed a waste pre-treatment process involving deconditioning, shredding and extraction of non-organic matter, which ensures high stability of the organic matter for an optimum anaerobic digestion stage.

This acquisition opens up new growth prospects for SUEZ in the Czech Republic, where the Group has been operating for over 30 years. SUEZ is present in the Czech water market through four dedicated companies: Brno Waterworks and Sewerage Company, located in and around Brno; Ostrava Waterworks and Sewerage Company, located in Ostrava; Karlovy Vary Waterworks and Sewerage Company, and VHS Benešov a.s. These four companies supply drinking water and collect and treat wastewater for one million people in the Czech Republic. They have nearly 1,700 employees and generated sales of around €200 million in 2022. SUEZ has also participated in consortia for the construction of two of the country's major wastewater treatment plants, Brno-Modřice and Prague-Troja.

With APBB, SUEZ is extending its range of services for municipalities and industry in the Czech Republic, creating value throughout the life cycle of their waste. This acquisition is fully in line with the Group's commitment to the recovery of bio-waste, a 100% green energy, produced and distributed locally, which contributes to the energy and ecological transition of its customers.

Sabrina Soussan , Chairman and CEO of SUEZ

Akram Alrabayah, Chief Executive Officer of CAYAN: «We are very pleased for the partnership with SUEZ group, their entry into APBB operations and know-how. This step will help APBB further expand its green technology in the Czech Republic. APBB targets to drive and lead waste processing innovation into energy and beyond making Europe a prime leader and example in sustainability and climate change solutions ».

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