PRELIMINARY offers for what will be at least a 49 percent stake in the Slovak power utility Slovenské elektrárne (SE) were submitted by five out of eight potential investors by the deadline of December 5, said Economy Minister Pavol Rusko, according to the public TASR news wire.
Only the Czech power producer CEZ has officially confirmed the delivery of a letter of intent to the Slovak Economy Ministry so far. The Czech company and Russian RAO UES are allegedly the only two bidders that confirmed their interest in buying SE as a whole, including its nuclear power utilities.
Besides CEZ and RAO UES, the eight companies that applied in a tender for SE by the end of November include AES (US), Verbund (Austria), E.ON (Germany), Enel (Italy), Electrabel (Belgium), and International Power (UK), according to reliable sources.
Two Slovak companies, SAVAS and Hornonitrianske Bane mines, which last month also applied, were excluded from the tender. Their offers were officially turned down due to the companies’ lack of experience in the energy sector and doubts as to whether they could finance their projects.
SE produces almost 85 percent of the electricity consumed in Slovakia, using nuclear, thermal, and hydroelectric plants.
Compiled by Beata Balogová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
9. Dec 2003 at 9:34
