Net electricity consumption increased by more than 2% to 54.8 TWh in the Czech Republic in 2003 - we had expected a 1.9% y-o-y increase. Net domestic electricity production increased by 8.8% to 76.6 TWh. Electricity exports and imports rose by 25% and 6% to 26.3 TWh and 10.1 TWh respectively. CEZ´s share of gross electricity production (including power plants´ own consumption) stood at 73%. Source: regulator.
The detailed 2003 operational and financial performance of CEZ will be released on February 27.
Separately, the Finance Minister, B. Sobotka, reiterated on Friday that he would prefer to sell a minority stake in CEZ by the next elections in 2006. Similar statements by the ministry have appeared several times already. Neutral.
Jitka Oppitzová