CEZ enters natural gas market

CEZ Czech utility group, which developed on the Romanian
energy market after having won the privatisation process of former
Electrica Oltenia in 2005, has also entered the natural gas market,
after being licensed by the energy regulatory authority (ANRE) last
week. The licence is valid until the beginning of next year, and
through it the Czechs are entering a market dominated by two large
players: E.ON Romania, controlled by Germany’s E.ON, and GDF Suez
Energy Romania, the former Distrigaz Sud, part of GDF Suez
French-Belgian group. The company part of CEZ Romania that received
the licence to supply natural gas is CEZ Trade, an electricity
trader. The company’s representatives did not comment on this
information. The strategy of creating an integrated services
portfolio, which should include both natural gas and electricity
supply, is a normal practice with major utilities groups. CEZ is
one of the investors attracted on the Romanian market by major
privatisation processes, but it has rapidly expanded in Romania,
being now involved in several projects.