Endesa sets out its stall for CEE
Endesa, already present in France, Italy and Latin America, wants to expand in Central and Eastern Europe. The company wants to invest hundreds of millions of euro in the region. Poland is the first step.
"Poland is an incredibly interesting market for investors," said Rafael Miranda Robredo, president of Endesa. "We are interested in Zespół Elekrowni Dolna Odra (ZEDO), the Southern Energetic Concern, companies connected with the Kozienice plant and ENEA," added Wojciech Tabi, director of Endesa Polska.
Currently, Endesa is waiting for the government's decisions concerning the privatization of the companies and is expecting the process to speed up in July 2007 when the EU directive demanding the liberalization of the energy market takes effect.
Earlier this year, Endesa wanted to buy ZEDO, but the governmentt later decided it should become part of a state-controlled energy giant. Endesa had signed a preliminary agreement in December 2005 to buy 85 percent of ZEDO from the government.
Endesa doesn't deny that it will launch completely new investments, such as wind energy plants or plants using biomass. The production power of these plants could reach hundreds of MW.
Currently, Endesa owns a 70-percent share in Elektrociepłownia Białystok and a 10-percent stake in Giełda Energii. Endesa is a world leader in the energy and gas industry. Its market share reaches 15 percent in Europe and 30 percent in Latin America.
