THE ECONOMY Ministry announced on January 22 that it had agreed with Gaz de France and Ruhrgas, the minority shareholders of gas utility SPP, on the immediate termination of controversial contracts worth Sk1.2 billion (€29.2 million).
Gaz de France and Ruhrgas have a 49 percent stake in SPP and the state remains the firm's minority shareholder. The consultation contracts, according to which the minority shareholders' mother firms would provide SPP with know-how, were signed without the approval of SPP's Supervisory Board, where the state has a majority of votes.
So far, Sk280 million (€6.88 million) has been paid out for the services. After talks with the shareholders, the Economy Ministry agreed that all further payments would be stopped, Economy Minister Pavol Rusko said.
The Slovak daily Pravda wrote on January 23 that new contracts will be drafted by February 10 and that the upper limit of payments through them will be "several hundred millions crowns lower", said Rusko.
Compiled by Martina Pisárová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
