SE to demand compensation for Gabčíkovo

Electricity utility Slovenské elektrárne (SE) on Thursday "strictly" rejected all accusations levelled by the state concerning the running of the Gabčíkovo hydroelectric power plant (VEG). "We're sure that the model of running the Gabčíkovo hydroelectric power station has been financially beneficial for both the state and SE. The contract on running [VEG] provides an option to terminate it, but the state is then obliged to compensate SE for the move, and we'll claim it," said SE spokesperson Jana Burdova. The spokesperson further stated that SE has always observed the contract, including by fulfilling all obligations and paying the prescribed payments to the power station owner. "Nevertheless, we've challenged the right of Vodohospodárska výstavba [Water Management Construction/VV] to receive payments from us for the structures of Slovenský Vodohospodársky Podnik [Slovak Water Management Company/SVP] at Gabčíkovo totalling €43 million for years when there was no contract between SVP and VV," said Burdova. The Government terminated the contract on 4 December, due to what Premier Robert Fico called a grave infringement of the contract on the part of SE's majority owner Enel. "After eight years of operating the waterworks by the Italian company Enel and the privatised Slovenské elektrárne, we've decided to terminate the contract on running VEG as of today due to a serious infringement of the contract," said Fico last week.