Slovak Economy Minister Richard Sulík will not agree with the sale of a stake in power distribution utility SSE to a state-run Hungarian company. He does not see the point in such privatisations ending with the state as an owner again. The minister also added that he does not like the steps Hungary has been taking recently, refering to financial support for various projects abroad. Slovakia currently controls 51% and the Czech company EPH 49% in SSE. However, EPH wants to sell its stake and it was contacted by the state-run Hungarian company MVM in this connection.
Sulík noted that the Slovak Government has the option to prevent such a sale based on an amendment to the Critical Infrastructure Act, by expressing its disagreement with it. He wants do so at the next Cabinet session.
The minister also said he held a meeting with the chief of SSE's board of directors Frantisek Cupr on Tuesday (November 9) at which he told him he would not agree with such a sale. Although Slovakia has an option to buy the stake, Sulík pointed to the fact that the price of the stake is currently €1.25 billion.
