A CZECH firm might replace Italian company Enel as the majority owner of electricity producer Slovenské Elektrárne (SE). Enel currently holds the majority stock in the company, which is co-owned by the state.
The information was first published in the Milan-based business daily Sole 24 Ore, claiming that ČEZ has already made a proposal to Enel, with the offer to be made official within a few days, the TASR newswire reported.
ČEZ revealed its intentions on August 25 and brought some clarity to the situation when the potential buyer of the 66-percent majority stake in SE was unclear and it had been speculated that Russian company Rosatom might be the potential buyer.
“We are currently preparing to launch official talks about the sale of the shares,” ČEZ spokesperson Barbora Půlpánová said, as quoted by the Sme daily, without citing any further details.
Prime Minister Robert Fico called ČEZ a sound entity, which would be a welcome buyer from the perspective of the Slovak government.
“The interconnection of the Slovak and Czech energy networks are at such a level and there is an understanding that if Enel and ČEZ reach an agreement, the Slovak Government won’t have any reason to interfere in this,” said Fico, as quoted by TASR.
Sme cited ‘foreign media’ reporting that Chinese energy giant CNNC could possibly compete with ČEZ for the stake in SE.
Source: Sme, TASR
Compiled by Michaela Terenzani from press reports.
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information
presented in its Flash News postings.
