March 20 (SeeNews) - The European Commission has approved a 650 million euro ($694 million) Slovenian scheme to back companies facing increased energy costs in the context of the war in Ukraine, it said.
The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework to support measures in sectors that are key to accelerating the green transition and reducing fuel dependencies, the EU Commission said in a statement last week.
The Slovenian scheme consists of limited amounts of aid of up to 2 million euro per beneficiary and support of up to 4 million euro per beneficiary for additional costs due to exceptional natural gas and electricity price increases under the form of direct grants.
The beneficiaries incurring operating losses may receive further aid, not exceeding 40% of the eligible costs and up to a maximum of 100 million euro. Energy-intensive companies that incur operating losses may receive aid up to 65% of the eligible costs for the maximum aid ceiling of 50 million euro.
Furthermore, those energy-intensive companies incurring operating losses that are active in particularly affected sectors, will be entitled to receive aid up to 80% of the eligible costs for the maximum aid ceiling of 150 million euro.
($ = 0.9359 euro)