The German government reportedly told the EU (according to “an EU source” quoted by the Czech press agency) that it is not calling for a halt to the Temelin nuclear power plant, but that it is concerned about the plant, that it intends to address its concerns to the Czech government, and that the issue has no relevance as to the Czech Republic’s prospective EU membership. However, a document officially submitted by the German ambassador to the Czech Republic yesterday reportedly mentions all of the above but also includes an explicit call for the Czech government to consider halting Temelin. The Czech Cabinet will likely discuss the document at its regular meeting today, and the Prime Minister is expected to comment on the issue after the meeting. Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla said yesterday that the Czech Republic can and will make sure that Temelin’s operation meets “the highest safety standards.” Also, Electricite de France said yesterday that it continues to be interested in CEZ privatization, in spite of Germany’s position on Temelin. Despite the continued confusion as to how to interpret the German position, CEZ may recover more ground today as the situation does not look as bleak as on Monday.
The ministries of finance and industry will today propose to Cabinet that a power-sector privatization advisor be directly appointed (in order to accelerate privatization) and that Deloitte & Touche be the advisor. The Cabinet may also approve a timetable that envisages the launch of the privatization tender in September with a sale recommendation required by the end of the year. The government is to sell a package of a 64% stake in CEZ and the state’s stakes in six regional distributors.
(Ondřej Daťka)