Hungarian-led Consortium Still Interested in Enel's Slovak Utility Stake

A Hungarian-led consortium is still interested in bidding for Enel's majority stake in the main Slovak electricity producer, the head of one of the companies in the group said on Thursday.

The comment comes after Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said last week that the state, which owns 34 percent of Enel's Slovenske Elektrarne, would "actively obstruct" a sale because of uncompleted units at the Mochovce nuclear power plant.

Oszkar Vilagi, head of Slovak oil refiner Slovnaft, which is owned by Hungarian oil and gas group MOL, said the consortium with Hungary's state-owned MVM Group was still interested in the Italian energy group's stake.

"Our goal is to prepare an offer that will correspond to these expectations (of the state), that means agreeing a system of guarantees that will secure the completion of units 3 and 4 at the Mochovce nuclear power plant," Vilagi said.

Enel is due to receive bids for Slovenske Elektrarne by May 9 and sources close to the matter have said it could attract four suitors, including two Czech companies, CEZ and EPH, as well as Finnish utility Fortum.

CEZ told Reuters on Wednesday the dispute between Slovakia's government and Enel over the sale was making it less likely it will bid by the deadline.

Slovakia is opposed to the sale until a project to build new units at Slovenske Elektrarne's Mochovce nuclear power plant is completed - the latest twist in a long-running dispute over the 4.6 billion euro ($5 billion) expansion, which has been beset by cost-overruns and delays.

In comments on Friday, Fico said Enel had responsibility for the completion of the units. His government is also considering buying Enel's stake or a part of it to gain a majority.

Enel's plan to offload its Slovak assets is part of efforts to reduce debts and fund growth.

($1 = 0.9252 euros)

(Reporting by Tatiana Jancarikova; Writing by Jason Hovet; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)