Opposition Reacts to CEZ's Stake Purchase, Questions Price and Project Costs

Bratislava, 7 October (TASR) - Opposition parties have criticised the government's decision to purchase Czech company CEZ's stake in the Slovak Nuclear Energy Company (JESS) joint venture for €190 million and warned about other planned expenditures related to the construction of a new nuclear power source, TASR learnt at a press conference held by the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), 'Slovakia', 'For the People' and Progressive Slovakia (PS) parties on Wednesday. They objected in particular to the lack of transparency, the absence of an open tender and the future cost of the project. SaS MP Karol Galek pointed out that, in addition to the €190 million for CEZ's stake, the draft budget includes a further €100 million for a "national nuclear programme". "There is no national nuclear programme. The Economy Ministry's state secretary confirmed this to me today at a committee meeting," said Galek. He also pointed to €700 million in state financial assets, adding that the Finance Ministry was unable to explain their specific use. Galek said that SaS is also considering filing a criminal complaint in connection with the purchase of CEZ's stake. MPs from the 'Slovakia'-'For the People' caucus questioned the project's cost-effectiveness and the way in which it was prepared. Julius Jakab ('Slovakia') said that according to his party's calculations, its construction might cost as much as €50 billion instead of the declared amount of €15 billion. "In the Czech Republic, they'll get two units for roughly the same amount of money," said Jakab, referring to the construction underway at the Dukovany nuclear power plant. Veronika Remisova ('For the People') also claimed that, based on information available to her, the price tag for CEZ's stake might be at least €70 million higher than its actual value. "We'll consider filing a criminal complaint so that the police can investigate what expert assessments were made, whether this process has taken place and whether the stake was valued in accordance with the law," she said. PS leader Michal Simecka remarked that PS isn't questioning nuclear energy, but the government's decision was made in the absence of analyses and consultations. "But as nobody consulted us, no analyses or estimates have been published as to what will be done with this electricity or whether there are other options, I consider this to be neither fair and nor responsible," he said. PS vice-chair Ivan Stefunko pointed to the long-term financial commitments of the project and said that PS will examine the legal options. jrg/df