ČEZ is taking ownership of heat producer Energotrans from Energetický a Průmyslový Holding (EPH), which will acquire ČEZ’s 50-percent stake in German miner Mibrag. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but EPH and ČEZ had together bought Mibrag for just under Kč 11 bln. Earlier, EPH was to take control of a ČEZ-owned plant in Chvaletice, but the announced deal is on ice; does it also signal a cooling in ČEZ-EPH relations?

Czech Coal says current contract prices of coal for municipal heating companies in the Czech Republic are too low and it wants a larger share of profits. Meanwhile, the heating companies charge that the miner is abusing its monopoly position, consumers will face considerably higher bills, and the rise in prices will threaten the viability of the industry.