DÜSSELDORF (dpa-AFX) - After a record result in 2023, the energy group Uniper expects a significantly lower profit for the current financial year due to falling commodity prices. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) are expected to be in the range of 1.5 to 2 billion euros, the company announced in Düsseldorf on Wednesday. Uniper expects an adjusted consolidated net profit of 0.7 to 1.1 billion euros.

The group, which was nationalized in the wake of the energy crisis, confirmed the key figures for 2023 published two weeks ago, according to which good business with power generation and gas trading had brought Uniper an adjusted net profit of over 4.4 billion euros. The Group reported adjusted EBITDA of €7.2 billion on Wednesday.

"The earnings situation of 2023 will normalize significantly this year," said Uniper CEO Michael Lewis. CFO Jutta Donges emphasized: "2023 was an outstanding, exceptional year. It certainly cannot be repeated in this form."

Uniper is Germany's largest gas trader. It supplies more than 1,000 municipal utilities and large industrial companies. In Germany and four other European countries, the company also operates many power plants that generate electricity from gas, coal, hydropower, nuclear power and oil. Uniper is also Germany's largest natural gas storage operator. With the exception of district heating, Uniper does not supply private customers./tob/DP/jha