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.