Deputy industry minister M. Vlasakova reiterated the ministry’s plan to receive revenues from selling CEZ and the six distributors as early as November this year, implying a very aggressive privatization schedule. The next steps in the process should be the selection of a privatization advisor, on February 9, and the launch of the privatization itself, on April 9. Bids should be evaluated in July, and the result of the tender should be approved by the government at the end of June. The deputy minister also said that the selling price will not be the priority, rather the stability of the entire power sector, including the domestic coal suppliers. Notwithstanding the latter statement, the reiteration of a fast privatization schedule may be positive for CEZ’s stock.
(Ondřej Daťka)