The draft government resolution for the preparation of the area for a gigafactory near Pilsen is ready

28.6. – The Pilsen Region already has a draft government resolution that deals with the construction of the Plzeň-Líně Strategic Business Park (SPP) at a 400-hectare airport. A factory for the production of batteries for electric cars, the so-called gigafactory, could be established there. The greatest interest is of the German carmaker Volkswagen, which, according to the region, would invest up to 120 billion crowns and employ up to 4,500 people. According to the draft resolution, the Czech state would invest nine billion in the preparation of the territory, and the demolition of buildings at the airport is to begin this year. The park should be ready for a strategic investor by 2027. The region will immediately send any comments to the government. This was said by President Rudolf Špoták.

“But we have basically no primary problem there,” he said. He added that the project is coordinated at meetings with representatives of ministries and the CzechInvest agency. The region understands the CAP as a strategic development zone for industry with high added value and should, according to the draft resolution, be the coordinator and founder of the park. According to the governor, neither the regional council nor the council will approve the proposal, only the government. This could happen at the end of the summer holidays, when the proposal has undergone an inter-ministerial comment procedure.

In addition to investments in park preparation from the Smart Parks for the Future grant program and its coordinator, the document also approves the creation of a working group of the Ministries of Industry, Defense, Finance and Transport, the Pilsen Region and surrounding municipalities.

Lazy is ten kilometers from Pilsen. “The site is an inefficiently used brownfield of optimal size, mostly state-owned, with good access to the railway and motorway network. The land is an international non-public airport and a national public one,” the motion for a resolution said. Most of the land is owned by the Ministry of Defense, the rest by Pilsen, Dobřany, Nová Ves, Zbůch and Líně. Until 2013, the complex was used by PlaneStation. “Although MO terminated the lease in 2013, PlaneStation did not leave the site and continues to use it illegally. Therefore, since 2013, there has been a lawsuit between MO as the landlord and PlaneStation as the tenant,” the material said.

The preparation of the site envisages the demolition of the airport infrastructure and the preparation of a zone of up to 391 hectares. The cost of infrastructure, including the preparation of the business park, is estimated at nine billion material. According to the resolution, the subsidy program must be adjusted so that it can finance the construction of a strategic park with an area of ​​over 100 hectares for constructions that will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. By the end of 2027, it will be possible to draw up to 90 percent of expenditure on roads, railways and health, education and social infrastructure from the updated program. The costs may also include projects, real estate purchases and expenses for the relocation of the Army Air Rescue Service, which uses a small part of the area with private aircraft. According to the resolution, a billion from the state coffers are expected in 2023 and a year later with CZK 1.5 billion.

“In the case of the investment, a number of gigafactory technological investments – creation of a battery chain – showed interest in localization.

The state tentatively expects to raise up to 11.5 billion from the sale of buildable space to investors. A gigafactory project would cost the state, regions and municipalities an estimated CZK 71 billion in taxes and levies between 2024 and 2033. “Taking into account the multiplier effects, the related ecosystem would bring in an additional CZK 285 billion to the nominal gross domestic product,” the proposal states.

The state does not want the project to have a private developer, because it would get rid of the influence on the development of a strategic giant site.

(čtk)

Illustration photo: LAN