Terna's shareholders' meeting gave the green light to the 2021 financial statements, closed with a investment leap and a historical record of 37 new works authorized by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and by the Regional Departments, for a total value of over one billion euros of investments, almost quadrupled compared to 2020.
The shareholders, present for 69,79% of the capital, also approved the distribution of a dividend of €0,2911 per share, a figure that represents an increase of 8% compared to 2020. Last November, the company that manages the national electricity grid paid a down payment equal to 9,82 cents. The remaining 19,29 cents per share will be paid in June.
The shareholders also gave the go-ahead for the appointment of director Qinjing Shen, the incentive plan and the authorization to purchase treasury shares and the report on the remuneration policy.
Terna has finally presented "Sky Earth Sea", the new immersive portal with which the company talks about its projects and activities in favor of a sustainable and decarbonised future, through a digital journey in a three-dimensional ecosystem.
Donnarumma: "Network development essential for net zero"
“The development of the electricity grid is essential for bring Italy towards net zero”. This was stated by Terna's managing director, Stefano Donnarumma, speaking at the shareholders' meeting.
The manager stated that the war in Ukraine "demonstrates how Italy must focus more strongly on the fuels of which we are rich, sun and wind". “We will continue to invest and favor the indispensable integration of renewables into the national grid“, reiterated Terna's number one, emphasizing the “growing commitment towards the transition and energy independence” that the company implements in many different ways. For example, he said, "being sustainable means having an approach to infrastructure that is well integrated into the environment, the result of dialogue with the territory and the institutions".
Innovation and digitization at the heart of the business plan
“In 2021 we focused on grounding the plan, which we updated in March giving further investment boost“, recalled Donnarumma. Terna is now committed to implementing "new connections to the country, which will be added to the 26 cross-border lines already active, which will strengthen Italy's role as an energy hub in the Mediterranean area”.
In the coming years, the company will be increasingly focused on innovation, both technological and cultural, for which I am also increased investments with the update of the plan, reaching approximately 1,2 billion euro of the total 10 billion.
"Digitization will play a central role to enable energy transition for the benefit of the entire electricity system”, he underlined, highlighting that Terna will use sensors, diagnostic systems, drones, robots and augmented reality to increase the reliability and resilience of the electricity grids.
The 2021 balance sheet and performance on the stock exchange
Speaking of Terna's economic and financial parameters, Donnarumma said that “the 2021 data marked a marked improvement compared to the previous year". The dividend was "in line with the policy declared to the market", while the performance of the shares on the stock exchange was remarkable.
"Despite the persistence of a complex economic scenario linked to the health emergency, Terna's stock closed 2021 with a positive result at 7,114 euro/share, equal to a significant increase in annual performance (+13,82%) compared to 2020", he explained the manager, adding that "Considering both the stock market performance and the impact of the dividends paid during the year, Terna's stock guaranteed a total return for its shareholders of 18,8% and the market has also shown that it appreciates the update of the Business Plan, with the stock which adjusted, precisely in the month of April, the all-time highs reaching 8,26 euros".
President Bosetti: "Pride for the results achieved"
Valentina Bosetti, president of Terna, expressed "pride for the results achieved", especially if one considers that "we are coming from two very difficult years, first the pandemic and now the conflict" and with a "situation of uncertainty due to the current crisis".
“The succession of unforeseen, often dramatic events reminds us of the urgency of forward-looking action to strengthen the resilience of our energy system as a key element of the country's security”, underlined the President of Terna, also recalling the ambitious targets set by the EU for the reduction of climate-altering emissions.
"We are increasingly essential, in the context of the country's and Europe's energy transition, and even more so in this delicate phase", continued Bosetti, confirming that Terna will contribute to "accelerate the creation of renewable energy plants, even off-shore, simplifying the authorization processes as much as possible”.
“Our goal – he explained – is to offer central, strategic support for the implementation of the decarbonization goalse”, those set by the European Green Deal (60-70 Gw of wind and photovoltaic power by 2030) and the objectives set by the National Energy and Climate Plan (development of 10 Gw of storage, hydroelectric and electrochemical systems by 2030).
