Efacec has been operating in Czechoslovakia since 1991, through Efacec Praga. In 2008, Efacec initiated the developments needed to create deep roots in the Central Europe region, which represents a market of extensive opportunity for the company.

Efacec’s business in this market is currently focused on six countries: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece.

Efacec already has eight of its ten business units present in this market (Engineering, Switchgear, Automation, Renewables, Transformers, Environment, Transportation and Logistics), which are supported by four local companies, Efacec Praga (Czech Republic), Efacec Central Europe (Romania), Efacec Contracting Central Europe (Austria) and Efacec Engenharia Bulgaria Branch.

In the Czech Republic in 2009, Efacec submitted its first ever bid in the engineering area for a contract out for tender from SEPS (Slovenska Elektrizacna Prenosova Susta), the Czech and Slovak utility company.

In the switchgear area, the company maintained its market share founded on CEZ (the largest electric utility of the Czech Republic).

The Efacec Praga team underwent reorganisation and strengthening during this year and the ISO 9001 quality system was implemented.

In Slovakia, an important order of Fluofix was obtained for E.ON AG, a German company based in Dusseldorf that operates in the fields of natural gas distribution and electricity generation and distribution.

The consolidation of the company (Efacec Central Europe) and its teams in Automation, Energy (T & D) and Environment, occurred in Romania. A highlight for this country was winning a major contract to supply one 6x200MVA Core Autotransformer.

In Bulgaria, important contracts with NEK (National Electric Company) in the Engineering area were obtained. This was Efacec's largest contract in Central Europe. The contract concerns the order of three lots of work for the upgrade of the Tzarevetz, Burgas and Metalurgichna 400kV substations, located within a radius of 200 km around Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia. The three batches of work, scheduled for completion in a period of 18 months, include equipment delivery and installation, the construction of all related civil works and commissioning, respectively.

In this country, Efacec is present through its Engineering Branch for the implementation of the contract with NEK, which has given the Group visibility in the region.

The main contract in Greece was the supply of Medium Voltage Switchgear to PPC (Public Power Company), the country’s utility.

In the Renewables area, the company achieved important advances in this market, including the order of a 110kV substation for Methana wind farm.