The Ministry of Industry and Trade reiterated that the evaluation of CEZ privatization bids should be submitted to Cabinet in December 2001; the purchase contract should be signed in the first half of 2002, the Czech Press Agency reports. Although we believe it is likely that CEZ privatization would be completed in the first half of 2002, the completion of bid evaluation in 2001 is ambitious. Neutral.
Separately, MFDnes reports today that Czech anti-nuclear activists will join with their Austrian counterparts and intend to file a lawsuit against CEZ in a joint effort to halt CEZ’s Temelin nuclear power plant. While this adds to the negative sentiment surrounding Temelin, little effect is expected (neither on the stock nor on Temelin’s activation).
(Jiri Soustruznik)