Energy & Green Biz

Why Czech strategic fuel reserve body ‘special accounts’ remain secret

István Léko — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 12:00:34 +0000

The Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ) has said that to comply with the government’s request to check the books of the Administration of State Material Reserves (SSHR) would be futile, even if it had the full capacity to do so.

ČEZ sell-off of coal-fired plant(s) ‘satisfies’ EC, may draw new bidders

Brian Kenety — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 09:59:10 +0000

News that Prague-listed utility ČEZ will sell one or two coal-burning power plants with a capacity of 800–1,000 MW in a bid to end a European Commission probe into suspected anti-competitive behavior — in line with plans to divest from carbon-emitting power generation capacity — has been welcomed by the markets.

Czech Coal boss breaks media silence, says ČEZ will sell him power plants

Brian Kenety — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 09:40:16 +0000

Czech billionaire Pavel Tykač, the owner of leading lignite miner Czech Coal, said in an interview for the daily Mladá fronta Dnes published Thursday that no other party — including rival Energetický a Průmyslový Holding (EPH) — will outbid him for state-c0ntrolled utility ČEZ’s coal-fired Počerady and Chvaletice plants.

Brussels rebuffs ‘free’ Czech carbon allowances bid

Chris Johnstone — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:58:26 +0000

A series of Czech power companies will not be receiving the “free” emissions allocation they have been counting on after the European Commission rebuffed aspects of the Ministry of Environment’s multi-billion crown bid.

Why Čepro will be looking for a new CEO

István Léko — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:58:51 +0000

The general director of the Czech state fuel distributor Čepro has informed Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek (TOP 09) he plans to step down in December after four years in the post, the daily Lidové noviny reported.

French connection tipped as a frontrunner for ČEZ nuclear partner

Chris Johnstone — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:41:43 +0000

Czech electricity giant ČEZ says it will sound out major power companies, including what it regards as its main power production rivals, with regard to the search for a strategic partner to share the costs and risks of building two nuclear reactors at its Temelín plant.

Energy efficiency: Made in Denmark, transportable to the rest of the EU?

Guest Writer — Thu, 10 May 2012 05:37:59 +0000

Denmark uses energy more efficiently than any other EU member state. Successive governments have implemented ambitious and consistent policies on energy efficiency since the oil shocks of the 1970s.

Will Austria and Germany be able to block Czech nuclear power?

Vratislav Ludvík — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:27:12 +0000

While the physical laws of electricity transmission and movement, set out for example in the Kirchhoff laws governing the movements of power through circuits are pretty clear cut about what’s possible and not, the human laws inspired by Austro-German moves to identify and ban imports of nuclear produced electricity are a lot less so.

Czech power regulator seeks to stamp out renewables support

Chris Johnstone — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:24:58 +0000

The Czech energy regulator is seeking new legislation to stop all renewable energy support from 2014, warning that the current system needs to be braked if Czech business and consumers are not to be overloaded with tens of billions of crowns in higher electricity charges.

Prague City Hall seeks full control of capital’s gas firm

István Léko — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:54:41 +0000

Prague City Hall is keen on getting full control of the capital’s gas distribution company, Pražská plynárenská, and to that end has via a public tender chosen a company to set a valuation on the firm, which investment bankers have put at roughly Kč 6 billion.

Why Prague City Hall should make a grab for Pražská plynárenská

Vratislav Ludvík — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:54:17 +0000

In crude terms, Prague City Hall is getting a bigger say, or more bang for its buck, in the capital’s gas distribution company, Pražská plynárenská, than its shareholding deserves. But that situation is looking increasingly at risk with fellow shareholder, German power group E.ON, looking likely to up sticks and sell-out.

Czechs in front line of Russian moves to hike price of Urals oil

Tom Jones — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:15:22 +0000

Contradictary claims have flooded the Czech media in recent days about falls in the volumes of Russian crude oil shipments to the Czech Republic via the Druzhba pipeline, the route for up to 70 percent of Czech supplies.

Czech energy regulator seeks to take on water companies

Chris Johnstone — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:43:00 +0000

The main Czech energy sector regulator is seeking to broaden its remit to take in the country’s water and water services companies. Energy Regulatory Office (ERÚ) chairwoman Alena Vitásková voiced ambitions for her office to take over responsibility for the problematic sector at a two-day conference on energy regulation in Prague.

Russian bidder offers ‘full financing’ for Temelín expansion

Chris Johnstone — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:22:13 +0000

The Russian-Czech joint venture bidding to construct two new nuclear reactors at the Czech Temelín site says that it is willing provide up to 100 percent financing for the project if need be.

Global conservation body raises alarm over proposed Šumava law

Chris Johnstone — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:40:27 +0000

An international conservation organization has warned that unprecedented Czech Ministry of Environment proposals for the Šumava National Park fly in the face of normal practice for protected nature zones.