German mining firm eyes Vattenfall’s lignite assets

German mining company MIBRAG said on Wednesday it is eyeing the lignite-fired power plants and lignite mines that Swedish energy giant Vattenfall operates in Germany, with a view to snapping them up.

“MIBRAG has noted with interest Vattenfall’s announcement that it is considering a new ownership structure for its lignite division,” a MIBRAG spokeswoman said. The German company already owns lignite mines and power plants in the country.

“MIBRAG is currently in discussion with its shareholder representatives about the further procedure in this process,” the spokeswoman added, but declined to give further details.

The Czech-headquartered energy company CEZ and the network of German municipal utilities Thuga have also been named as potential buyers by media sources, but both declined to comment on the matter. Vattenfall also declined to comment.

Vattenfall said on 30 October it was considering the sale of its lignite mines and lignite-fired power plants in Germany to lower its carbon emissions ( see EDEM 30 October 2014 ).

But the plan has worried the German government.

Even before Vattenfall made public its plan to sell the lignite assets, German economics minister Sigmar Gabriel sent a letter to Swedish prime minister Stefan Lofven, proposing to meet and discuss any possible sale.

“He pointed out that Vattenfall has a special responsibility for [the] working force and for energy supply because of the success Vattenfall has had in Germany in the past,” a spokeswoman for the German economics ministry explained.

But despite the letter being sent on 13 October, the two sides have not yet scheduled a meeting, she noted.

“Eventually this is a decision for the company,” the spokeswoman added, in an admission that the German government could not force Vattenfall to change its plans. Laura Raus