The cabinet at its regular meeting today is to decide on a natural gas price rise, suggested by the Economy Ministry as almost 20% from October 1; however, several leftist coalition parties have vowed to fight the rise. The increase, which would bring the price Slovaks pay to within 72% of the real price of the gas, is seen as key in the run up to SPP’s privatisation, where any consumer price lower than 90% of the purchase price will lower the attractiveness of the utility for potential bidders and thus may lower the price bid for the 49% SPP stake on offer by as much as 12 billion crowns.
Compiled by Tom Nicholson from press reports.
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
