Enel SpA has “at least two” bidders for its Bulgarian coal fired power plant Maritsa East 3, according to chief executive Fulvio Conti. He declined to disclose any futher details, saying negotiations were ongoing and at an advanced stage.
Russia’s Inter RAO has been tipped as the most likely buyer of a majority stake in the plant, according to Italian media reports. Enel, which is being advised by Deutsche Bank, aims to realise Euros 600 million from the sale.
In late July, Austria’s utility EVN, which already owns EVN Bulgaria, an electricity distribution company in south and southeast Bulgaria, confirmed that it is holding talks for the acquisition of a majority stake in the power plant. British utility International Power, US power producer AES Corp. and CEZ AS are also said to have shown interest in acquiring Enel’s majority stake in Maritsa East 3.
A year ago Enel increased the capacity of Maritsa East 3 plant to 908 megawatts, up from 840 MW, and also put new desulphurisation installations on the plant’s four units.
The plant is located in the Maritsa East lignite coal mining complex in southern Bulgaria, which generates 30% of the country’s electricity. Enel also owns seven wind parks of 3 MW near the Black Sea coast.
