INVESTOŘI V MSK

The Advantages of Energy

Self-Sufficiency For

Lenzing Biocel Paskov

In this interview, Kateřina Kupková, director of Lenzing Biocel Paskov, talks about the benefits

of energy self-sufficiency as well as the company’s plans for the future, including their strategy

for the efficient use of batteries and other renewable energy sources. She also talks about how

Biocel is able to maintain their employees in peak shape and how the business is planning to face

the challenges of the upcoming decade.

What are the advantages of energy selfsufficiency for Lenzing Biocel Paskov?

What do you think the future

of self-sufficiency in industrial plants

will look like?

In our case, energetics is one of our

strongest points. We are completely

self-sufficient in the production of heat

and electricity. In fact, our electricity

production exceeds our needs by 15%,

so we are able to sell this excess back to

the public grid. In my opinion, energy

self-sufficiency and the efficient use of

energy sources is one of the key questions

of modern industrial business. I believe

that battery storage is the next step in

this evolution, as this greatly decreases

overflow into the electrical grid, which

further enhances operating efficiency.

The implementation of other natural and

renewable energy sources is also bound

to be part of future development. At

the same time, I believe that the Czech

Republic should continue work in the

development of small modular nuclear

reactors and support similar projects.

What are your plans for the future of

Lenzing Biocel Paskov? What would you

like the company to look like in another

10-15 years?

The strategic development of the

company was and always will be one of

the main responsibilities of the company

management. Currently, we are in the

process of completing our 15 year strategy,

however, I am not a liberty to discuss more

than that at this time. I believe that a decade

from now, Lenzing Biocel Paskov will still

be a responsible and renowned employer

within the region, as well as a company

with a high quality and sustainable product

that is prepared to face any challenge the

future could throw at it.

84 ǀ POSITIV 3/2023

What are some of the main challenges

Lenzing Biocel Paskov may face in the

years leading up to 2030? How is the

company preparing for these challenges?

One of the largest challenges we are

bound to face is so-called “generational

shift”. Employee fluctuation within the

company has been historically very low,

and we are now slowly entering the stage

where our experienced colleagues are

gradually beginning to retire and new

employees are entering the company

to replace them. Due to the specificity

of our industry and the technologies it

involves, the processes of training and

know-how transfer are quite lengthy for

new colleagues. Furthermore, this process

is not a simple handover of technical

knowledge and operating experience, as

we are also aware of intergenerational

differences, which we are successfully

taking into account in order to not

only make the transfer of information

smoother, but also to develop a better

working environment.

What is the role of Lenzing Biocel

Paskov’s employees in regards to the

company’s success and development?

I believe that their role is indispensable.

I am a supporter of progress, whether

it be AI, digitization, robotization,

automation, or whatever term you want

to use to describe the current trends.

Nonetheless, without qualified and

motivated employees, we would never

be able to achieve any of these goals.

This is why it is key for us to invest into

the development of our employees and

their professional qualifications through

continuous education.

Our Pulp Academy educational program

is aimed at increasing the professional

qualifications of current employees. The