Taneco, which wanted to build in the Holešov industrial zone, sues the Zlín Region

The Taneco company, which wanted to build a food processing plant in the Holešov industrial zone, is suing the Zlín Region. Senator and lawyer Jana Zwyrtek Hamplová (for Nezávislé), who represents the company, said that the filing of the lawsuit was confirmed today by Petr Prokopius, a spokesman for the Zlín district court. In 2018, the company entered into a fixed-term agreement with the region on a future purchase contract for the land on which it wanted to do business. However, the regional council refused to extend the contract repeatedly. Hejtman Radim Holiš (ANO) told ČTK today that the region had acted with due care.

The county extended the contract once, but did not do so a second time the year before last. The company is seeking a determination of the duration of the region's obligations under a future purchase agreement on the transfer of ownership of real estate in the industrial zone or reimbursement of its costs in the Zlín District Court. According to Hamplová, who claims that the region did not provide the company with the necessary cooperation, the costs are in the tens of millions of crowns. "The company filed the lawsuit after very careful consideration, aware that it was a legally bold procedure. However, it refused to accept the actions of the region, which it considers subjectively and objectively wrong," Hamplová said.

According to the governor, the non-renewal of the future contract was discussed by the regional councillors and deputies. "We defended the interest of the region as best we could. We have repeatedly offered taneco to extend the term, but if someone does not meet the deadlines, people would rush me if I took care of the county by forgiving everything to everyone. I am, of course, confident that we have acted with due diligence and as best we could. We acted legitimately, we have the legal basis for it," Holiš said.

Taneco planned to raise and process fish and grow and process vegetables in Holesov based on the principle of aquaponics, in which resources recirculate between fish and plants. Both production and manufacturing take place in climate-controlled halls all year round, according to chairman of the board Miroslav Škrabal. "You can find similar projects all over the world today. It is a very sophisticated system of local food production using the latest technology, minimising the impact on the environment," said Škrabal.

The agreed purchase price for the necessary land exceeded CZK 66.5 million excluding VAT. The planned investment was to reach CZK 3.5 billion with the creation of more than 200 jobs, according to Škrabal. As of November 21, 2022, Taneco had invested nearly CZK 78.5 million in the project, which will be considered a wasted investment if it does not materialize, according to company representatives. The company argues, for example, that the preparation of the project was hampered by anti-poverty measures.

Jiří Čunek (KDU-ČSL), an opposition regional councillor and former governor, criticises the governor's actions. "There is nothing more suitable than aquaponics in the industrial zone where Taneco wants to spread out. I think this is a step in the wrong direction, what they have done," Čunek said about the non-renewal of the contract.

The Zlín District Court has not yet set a date for a hearing in the case. "Also in this case, as in other cases settled in civil proceedings, the court seeks a settlement between the parties if the nature of the case allows it," Prokopius said. Taneco has not ruled out an amicable solution to the case, which Hamplová said would be the most efficient and economical for both parties.

Source: CTK