site.btaHalted CEZ Deal Does Not Threaten Energy Security - Energy Minister Petkova

Sofia, July 20 (BTA) - Interviewed by bTV on Friday, Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova said halting the sale of CEZ Groups' Bulgarian assets to local company Inercom does not threaten energy security. Thursday decision of the Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) to stop the acquisition shows there was no political pressure, she said.

CEZ Group must perform its obligations as the owner of the assets until they are sold, said Petkova.

Also on Thursday, the competition authority stopped the sale of Nova TV to Czech billionaire Petr Kellner.

Petkova ruled out a Bulgarian-Czech trade war. She commented that the CPC probably asked various competent authorities for their opinion. It cannot have pronounced on the deals without good reason and evidence, and its decisions are appealable within two weeks, said the Energy Minister.