Czech gas fitters of the year hail from Kyjov; students from Prague and Pardubice also take the podium
The international PLYNAŘ ROKU 2026 high school competition has its winners: students Miroslav Kadlečík and Tomáš Bohunský from the Secondary School of Polytechnics in Kyjov took gold. Second place went to Matyáš Bittner and Serhii Zharikov from the Academy of Crafts in Prague, while Sebastien Novák and Dominik Puš from the Secondary Vocational Gas School in Pardubice won bronze. The competition aimed to recognise the most talented students of gas engineering and related fields, and to showcase study opportunities and the Czech gas industry to the public. GasNet Group was the event’s general partner.
The fourth edition of the young tradespeople’s competition took place at the recently concluded Brno Building Fair, with ten two-person teams from Czechia and Slovakia taking part. Students competed mainly in practical gas engineering skills—for example, connecting a gas meter to a steel pipe or installing a gas service connection. “The two-day competition was not only varied but also demanding, so we’re all the happier to have taken first place,” says student Tomáš Bohunskýfrom the winning team.
This year, the organisers of PLYNAŘ ROKU introduced several new features: “For the first time in the event’s history, the Brno final was preceded by regional school rounds across the country, and the competition got a new visual identity. The number of finalists and partners was also a record,” explains Petr Zajíček, event manager and director of special operations at GasNet Group.
Czech energy cannot do without a new generation of gas fitters
“Over the past four years, the PLYNAŘ ROKU competition has become a prestigious, established event, as shown by growing interest from schools and partners. New generations of gas fitters will continue to play a vital role in Czech energy, so I’m pleased that we are raising awareness of the gas industry, the trade and training in it,” adds Andrzej Martynek, CEO of GasNet Group.His remarks also point to the fact that, over the long term, interest in gas is growing. Last year, GasNet distributed 63.3 TWh of energy, 7% more year on year. It also connected 84 new supply points in the large and medium-sized customer segment, almost a third more than the previous year. GasNet also expects that switching large energy facilities from coal to gas alone could increase gas consumption by 11 to 17 TWh by 2030.
The gas industry is undergoing a generational change, and demand for graduates will continue
Every year, 30 to 50 students complete the secondary-school gas engineering programme, with a significant proportion working as self-employed contractors. GasNet Group, meanwhile, recruits a similar number of gas fitters each year for field work, such as gas facility inspectors and installers. The number of gas engineering graduates is therefore not enough to meet demand from GasNet or other companies. In addition to raising awareness of the gas industry, GasNet is focusing on strengthening cooperation with schools and upgrading the qualifications of workers in related fields, such as plumbing. The company arranges individual work placements for students near where they live and awards scholarships to the most talented.
More information about studying gas engineering is available at gasnet.jobs.cz/studuj-plynarinu.
Competition partners
The PLYNAŘ ROKU competition could not take place without the support of partners, who help ensure its professional standards and recognise talent.
- General partner: GasNet
- Gold partners: Gas Storage CZ, GLUMBÍK, Metrostav, Moravský Plynostav, MONTGAS, NET4GAS, PROCKERT & HYNEK, Pražská plynárenská Servis distribuce, Výstavba sítí Kolín, Lama Energy Group, SEPSafe, TOP CENTRUM, MND
- Silver partners: GAS, s.r.o., FASTRA, HUTIRA, ENBRA, innogy
- Bronze partners: Český plynárenský svaz, Aliaxis ČR, AVK VOD-KA a.s., G.A.S., IPMEG, Plynosklad, TECHKO, FITINGSERVIS, Pipelife Czech, Thermona, BERNER, TITAN Metalplast, Ariston Group
- Partners: Secondary School of Building Crafts Brno-Bosonohy, South Moravian Region, JMK Chamber of Commerce, České ručičky, Veletrhy Brno
The competition was part of Mistři všedních dnů, a multidisciplinary championship for students of skilled trades organised by the Secondary School of Building Crafts Brno-Bosonohy.
Translation disclaimer
This article is a machine translation of the Czech original and has not yet been fully reviewed. In case of any doubt, please refer to the Czech version.
