Economy
Orbán's ally seen eyeing majority stake in power plant in Hungary
More than half of Mátrai Power Plant is currently owned by German energy giant RWE and 21.7% is held by EnBW which is also of Germany. These shares are now up for sale. The remaining 21.7% package belongs to state-owned Hungarian Electricity Works (MVM) and it is expected to remain in its possession.
Mátrai Power Plant is the second-largest power generator of the country after the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, contributing 13% to the national consumption. It mainly uses lignite, which is brought to the surface from the power plant’s own mines, but it also runs a gas-fuelled turbine. The company employs 2,100 people and its annual revenues are around HUF 100 billion.
There is no public record of who might be interested in acquiring the aforementioned stakes, but the portal has learned from independent sources with knowledge of the local electricity market that the following companies have expressed interest so far at the German owners:
Mészáros and Mészáros Ltd. is the family-owned business of Lőrinc Mészáros, who has interests in various fields, including the media (nearly 200 newspapers and a television channel (Echo TV), the hotel business (Hunguest chain), land (thousands of hectares, mostly former state land) and the food sector (a mineral water company).Mészáros does not own a power plant. Yet.
If the billionaire enters the energy market, he could create a new power circle (no pun intended) closely linked to PM Orbán. Several sources told 444.hu that by doing so Orbán would place another “counterweight" beside Mol.
As for the rivals, MVM had already been showing interest to acquire the whole of Mátrai Power Plant, but the transaction flopped and market rumours say this is a dead end. The Hungarian subsidiary of MET, which already owns Dunamenti Power Plant, is serious about getting its hands on Mátrai, the portal said.
MET Holding is a Swiss energy trader, the largest owner of which is Mol, but several Hungarian businessmen also hold stakes in it. The Prague-headquartered EP Holding is the largest district heating company of the Czech Republic, with several foreign interests, including the district-heating focused Budapest Power Plant which it acquired in 2015.
Mátrai Power Plant is the second-largest power generator of the country after the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, contributing 13% to the national consumption. It mainly uses lignite, which is brought to the surface from the power plant’s own mines, but it also runs a gas-fuelled turbine. The company employs 2,100 people and its annual revenues are around HUF 100 billion.
There is no public record of who might be interested in acquiring the aforementioned stakes, but the portal has learned from independent sources with knowledge of the local electricity market that the following companies have expressed interest so far at the German owners:
- MVM
- MET
- Mészáros and Mészáros Ltd.
- EPH (Czech Republic)
Mészáros and Mészáros Ltd. is the family-owned business of Lőrinc Mészáros, who has interests in various fields, including the media (nearly 200 newspapers and a television channel (Echo TV), the hotel business (Hunguest chain), land (thousands of hectares, mostly former state land) and the food sector (a mineral water company).Mészáros does not own a power plant. Yet.
If the billionaire enters the energy market, he could create a new power circle (no pun intended) closely linked to PM Orbán. Several sources told 444.hu that by doing so Orbán would place another “counterweight" beside Mol.
As for the rivals, MVM had already been showing interest to acquire the whole of Mátrai Power Plant, but the transaction flopped and market rumours say this is a dead end. The Hungarian subsidiary of MET, which already owns Dunamenti Power Plant, is serious about getting its hands on Mátrai, the portal said.
MET Holding is a Swiss energy trader, the largest owner of which is Mol, but several Hungarian businessmen also hold stakes in it. The Prague-headquartered EP Holding is the largest district heating company of the Czech Republic, with several foreign interests, including the district-heating focused Budapest Power Plant which it acquired in 2015.
