Ministry Will Request Additional Expert Opinions to Determine Price of JESS

Bratislava, 11 June (TASR) - The Economy Ministry will request additional independent appraisals to determine the price at which the state should purchase the shares held by Czech company CEZ in the Slovak Nuclear Energy Company (JESS). The ministry on Wednesday (10 June) received a new deadline from the government - 10 July of this year - to settle Slovakia's ownership stakes in JESS. This is intended to secure full state control over the new nuclear power plant project. The original deadline for this task was the end of April of this year. "As the government didn't decide at its meeting on Wednesday on the transfer of shareholder rights in the Nuclear and Decommissioning Company (JAVYS) from the Economy Ministry to the Government Office - a proposal submitted by the prime minister [Robert Fico (Smer-SD)] - and instructed the Economy Ministry to prepare the next steps, the Economy Ministry will request further expert opinions in order to determine a fair and transparent price for this transaction in accordance with standard international rules," stated the ministry. The partners of JESS, the company tasked with preparing the construction of a nuclear power plant, include the Slovak Nuclear Decommissioning Company (JAVYS) and Czech company CEZ. "As JESS is responsible for this construction project, it's first necessary to settle Czech company CEZ's equity stake in JESS and determine a transparent, fair purchase price for the Slovak Republic for the Czech equity interest," added the ministry. am/df