BERLIN, Sept 15 (Reuters) – The head of Austrian energy group OMV said on Thursday that a windfall tax planned by the European Union could have a huge impact on society, further criticizing the use of profits from the last three years to calculate the amounts due.
“We will keep an eye on it because it can already have a massive impact,” Alfred Stern told reporters, adding that it was difficult to estimate the exact impact because the details of the project had not yet been defined.
According to proposals to limit soaring energy prices, companies in the fossil fuel sector would be forced to donate part of their profits.
It would be a question of paying a sum equivalent to 33% of the profits of the current year exceeding by 20% the average of the last three years.
According to Alfred Stern, 2019 and 2020 having been marked by the health crisis, it would therefore be foolish to use the figures for these years, which are lower than in normal times.
“During this period, many oil and gas companies have experienced significant difficulties,” he added. (Report Alexandra Schwarz-Goerlich, written by Miranda Murray; French version Valentine Baldassari, edited by Kate Entringer)