In the case of a sale of Enel’s majority share in the energy utility Slovenske Elektrarne (SE), Slovakia will use the opportunity to bolster its standing in this strategic company, said Prime Minister's spokesperson Beatrice Szaboova on Thursday.
“As with (gas utility) SPP, we'd like to negotiate much more advantageous conditions for the state, as a minority shareholder, than the state of affairs introduced under the original privatization contract. We’re waiting for the situation to evolve: potential buying of the shares by the state is only a last resort – if it would be advantageous for the state,” she claimed. Szaboova spoke in reaction to information indicating that Slovakia plans to bolster its share in the company through the purchase of SE as a whole. “We're prepared to increase the state share in SE significantly,” Prime Minister Robert Fico was quoted by Italian media. In an effort to cut down its debt, Italian-based Enel intends to sell its 66-percent share in SE - the remaining 34 percent is currently owned by the state. Enel purchased its share in the energy company in 2005.
