ECONOMY Minister Pavol Rusko, backed by the decision of his party the New Citizen's Alliance, said that the privatisation of the Slovenské elektrárne power producer must be organised such that it would secure the completion of two blocs of the nuclear plant in Mochovce.
According to Rusko, this is in the interest of Slovakia's power self-sufficiency, the Pravda daily wrote.
The announcement, however, surprised Rusko's ruling partners, who were not informed of the minister's plan. It also angered Slovakia's neighbour, Austria, which believes the nuclear facility is a dangerous risk.
According to the daily SME, Hans Kroberger, head of the Austrian ruling party FPO, labelled the plan "an offence and a provocation of the highest rank".
In 2000, the Slovak cabinet decided against completing the two blocs with state money. According to estimates, the cost of the work would come to Sk50 billion (€1.2 billion).
Compiled by Martina Pisárová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
