CEZ: Temelin asked for permission to increase the load of the first reactor to 75%

The Czech Press Agency reports that Eléctricité de France and the International Power/E.ON consortium should be on the short-list for the second round of the privatization tender. Speculation is about AES, Iberdrola, Vattenfall and Tractabel being on the list. Newspapers report that the short-list might be approved today. Neutral.

Although all the tests required for the 55%-capacity load have not yet been performed, CEZ’s nuclear power plant in Temelin has asked for permission to increase the load of the first reactor to 75%. The permission must be granted by the State Nuclear Safety Office; the Office said that it may allow the unperformed 55% capacity tests to be carried over into the next testing phase. CEZ informed yesterday that it sold all 2.7 TWh (about 5% of CEZ’s total expected output) of power offered in an auction; the average price amounted to CZK 761 /MWh. This confirms that the company’s pricing strategy for 2002 is attractive for CEZ clients, the domestic market share gain will be limited, though. Neutral.

(Jiri Soustruznik)