1 Oct 2009 16:38

Enel mulling involvement in construction of Baltic NPP

MOSCOW. Oct 1 (Interfax) - Italy's Enel is considering involvement in a project for the construction of Baltic Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Kaliningrad, the head of OJSC Inter RAO UES , Yevgeny Dod, told journalists on Thursday.

"We are discussing it [Enel's involvement in the project]," Dodo said. He added that Enel and Inter RAO's partnership had been "stepped up" regarding energy projects (for example generation projects0. Dod said the companies have been discussing both projects inside and outside of Russia.

When asked whether Enel could purchase stakes in Inter RAO's Russian assets Dod answered: "of course, they can."

Dominique Fache, Enel's country manager and chief operations officer for Russia and CIS, said that Enel has still not confirmed its interest in participating in the development of Baltic NPP.

Fache said: "Everything is open for us [concerning partnership with Inter RAO]. But I still do not confirm [possible involvement in the construction of Baltic NPP]."

Fache added that Enel and Inter RAO had earlier signed a partnership memorandum, which set out the areas of possible joint activity. However, these areas have yet to reach the discussion stage, he said.

Fache stressed that decisions to participate in new project would likely be made following the company's consolidation of business and optimization of management systems.