Thermal Plants put up for sale

Three Thermal Plants – two from Chisinau and one from Balti in which the state has a 100% stake -- will be included on the privatization list, as the Government endorsed the respective legislative initiatives on June 2, Info - Prim Neo reports Setting these plants for privatization is part of the Energy Strategy providing for increasing the local capacities of generating power. Now Moldova produces locally only 1/3 of the power it needs, depending on external sources, especially Ukraine. Officials regret the plants' equipment is worn out, the investments needed are big, as the Government does not have the money. Moreover: it takes a relatively long time to recuperate the investments in this sector – some 10-15 years. On the other hand, modernizing their equipment could better the consumption of the natural gas important to produce electricity, they say. Officials say investors from Spain, the Czech Republic and Russia are inclined to buy the plants. The legislative initiative also provides for privatizing the state-run company Air Moldova, the Parliament's Cafe and Codru hotel. Under the law, the list of the public assets to be privatized is made up by the Government. On Wednesday,July 2 , the Economy Ministry announced the next auctions round selling state stakes in companies for September 22 on the Moldova Stock Exchange. The state puts up for sale SA “Tutun – CTC”, state's stake 90.81%, starting price 300 million lei; SA “Magazinul Universal Central “Unic”, state's stake – 82.29 %, starting price – 300 million lei; SA “Sigma”, state stake – 71.67%”, starting price – 35 million lei; SA “Zorile”, state stake – 60.26%, starting price – 44 million lei; SA “Micron”, state stake – 72.11%, starting price – 13 million lei; SA “Floare - Carpet”, state's stake – 59.49%, starting price – 72.5 million lei; SA “Introscop”, the state's stake in which is 60.17% and the starting price of the assets being established at 32 million lei.