Spanish:
 
|
Spanish regulator cites national security in Endesa bid
AFP
MADRID
Petroleumworld.com 04 10 06The Spanish energy regulation body CNE opposes a bid by E.ON of germany for Endesa on the grounds that management of nuclear plants is an issue of national security, El Periodico newspaper reported Monday.
The CNE was not available for comment on the report which said that the regulator shared the government's view that in a strategic sector, in which "nuclear security" is at stake, a foreign bid should be resisted.
Gas Natural has made a 22.5-billion-euro (27.5-billion-dollar) cash and shares bid for fellow Spanish electricity utility Endesa. But it faces competition from German energy giant E.ON, which has made a counter bid worth 29.1 billion euros in cash.
The government backs Gas Natural's rival bid for Endesa, the country's number one electricity producer, as it supports the creation of a national energy powerhouse capable of competing globally.
Madrid is counting on the support of the electricity sector which manages the country's nine nuclear plants, according to El Periodico.
The newspaper added that several electricity firms were set to make representations to the CNE against the E.ON bid expressing reticence on sharing the running of nuclear plants with a foreign company.
Union Fenosa and Iberdrola share with Endesa ownership of the Santa Maria de Garona, Almara 1 and 2, Asco 2, Trillo and Vandellos plants.
The CNE has meanwhile rejected an E.ON request for names of those on the body dealing with the dossier, according to El Pais daily, which said the regulator saw the move as an attempt to intimidate the officials concerned.
E.ON made the request in a bid to guarantee the confidentiality of information it sends the CNE pertaining to its bid.
The European Commission said last week it was beginning steps to haul Spain before an EU court for failing to scrap long-contested laws on voting rights in the energy sector and threatened similar action against Italy following a March 24 decree allowing the CNE to widen its brief to include foreign bids.
The move to protect "strategic sectors" and which the Commission regards as protectionism came just four days after E.ON launched its counter-bid for Endesa.
AFP 04 10 06 1025 GMTCopyright © 1994-2006 Agence France-Presse. All Rights Reserved.
Your
feedback is important to us!
We invite all our readers to share with us
their views and comments about this article.
Write to editor@petroleumworld.com
Any
question or suggestions, please write to:
editor@petroleumworld.com
Best
Viewed with IE
5.01+
Windows
NT 4.0, '95, '98 and ME +/ 800x600 pixels