July 10, 2004
“Trud” newspaper, Author: Vesela Vaneva
Czech has biggest chance for the EDC Sofia, Austria – for Plovdiv, Germany – for Varna
693.2 MILLION EUR FOR THE EDCS.
Five foreign companies hade proposed yesterday sensationally high prices for 67% of the EDCs in ... class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">693.2 million EUR is expected to enter the state budget from the sale of the seven EDCs. The most optimistic prognoses a year ago were for 450 million EUR.
In the determined term 14 o’clock yesterday the five candidates – the Czech power company CEZ, Enel – Italy, EVN – Austria, E.ON – Germany and the state-owned Greek company PPC submitted in the PA 13 final offers for the three EDC packages. At the official ceremony minutes later the offers were opened in public. The price will be the only criterion for listing the offers, emphasized yesterday the PA executive director Atanas Bangachev. The regulation says that each candidate has the right to buy only one of the packages.
With an offered price of 218.5 million EUR CEZ will have a bigger chance for Western pull, including Sofia City, Sofia District and Pleven.
EVN gave a higher offer for the same package – 302 million EUR. It also proposed the highest for Southeastern Bulgaria – 271 million EUR. For this reason it will probably be preferred from PA as a buyer of the regions Stara Zagora, Plovdiv and Burgas because the main aim is to maximize the incomes. The rule “decisive is the price of the second listed” will be implemented, explained experts. It was familiar to the candidates and was included in a special formula, according to which the PA will list them.
The highest price for Northeastern Bulgaria was offered by the German E.ON – 140.7 million EUR.
The PA will announce the winners and will sign the contracts with them till the end of the month after negotiations with the candidates. The shares will be transferred to the new owners till October this year, announced the energy minister Milko Kovachev.