Gov't Gives Minister Sakova New Deadline for State Control of Nuclear Project

Bratislava, 10 June (TASR) - Economy Minister Denisa Sakova has failed to meet the deadline for settling Slovakia's ownership stakes in the JESS enterprise, which was intended to secure full state control over the planned new nuclear power source. The government has therefore set a new deadline of 10 July this year. Under a government resolution from September last year, Sakova was originally required to complete the settlement of ownership in JESS, in which Czech energy group CEZ also holds a stake, by the end of April. Full Slovak ownership of JESS is intended to ensure state-controlled property rights over land designated for the construction of a new nuclear facility. JESS was established by the Slovak government in December 2009 to prepare the project for a new nuclear power plant in Jaslovske Bohunice. The company is a joint venture between Slovak state-owned JAVYS, which holds a 51 percent stake, and CEZ, which owns the remaining 49 percent. Prime Minister Robert Fico said after a government session that the new nuclear power facility should be built exclusively as Slovak state property, adding that the Czech side must be settled with, as it previously invested around €130 million in the company as share capital. Fico described the matter as important in order to accelerate processes related to the construction of the nuclear facility, adding that he expects concrete solutions from the deputy prime minister by 10 July this year. mf