Vattenfall hit by German nuclear phase out
Swedish state-owned energy concern Vattenfall on Thursday announced a massive net loss in the second quarter, blaming the decision in Germany to abandon nuclear power.
Vattenfall recorded a net loss of 2.7 billion kronor ($433 million) against five billion kronor over the same period in 2010, the company's report said.
The result, said company president Öystein Löseth, was "mainly due to the German parliaments decision to phase out the countrys nuclear power...".
But it was also because the company had not been able to repeat the high production and sales over the same period last year.
Second quarter sales dropped 18.6 percent to 40.4 billion kronor against 49.7 billion in 2010.
"As a result of Germanys decision to phase out the countrys nuclear power,
Vattenfall has been forced to recognise an impairment loss for the book value
of its two nuclear power plants in Germany and increase provisions," Loeseth
said.
Germany's decision had cost the company 10.2 billion kronor, he added.
"Vattenfall respects the German parliaments decision and expects fair compensation for the companys financial losses," he said.
But the company also saw business opportunities in Germany's plans to develop renewable energy, "and intends to continue actively participating in the development of new projects."
Vattenfall already has experience of renewable energy projects: in 2010 it announced it would plough about one billion euros along with Germany's Stadtwerke Munchen (SWM) into a 80-turbine offshore wind farm in the North Sea.
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Vattenfall recorded a net loss of 2.7 billion kronor ($433 million) against five billion kronor over the same period in 2010, the company's report said.
The result, said company president Öystein Löseth, was "mainly due to the German parliaments decision to phase out the countrys nuclear power...".
But it was also because the company had not been able to repeat the high production and sales over the same period last year.
Second quarter sales dropped 18.6 percent to 40.4 billion kronor against 49.7 billion in 2010.
"As a result of Germanys decision to phase out the countrys nuclear power,
Vattenfall has been forced to recognise an impairment loss for the book value
of its two nuclear power plants in Germany and increase provisions," Loeseth
said.
Germany's decision had cost the company 10.2 billion kronor, he added.
"Vattenfall respects the German parliaments decision and expects fair compensation for the companys financial losses," he said.
But the company also saw business opportunities in Germany's plans to develop renewable energy, "and intends to continue actively participating in the development of new projects."
Vattenfall already has experience of renewable energy projects: in 2010 it announced it would plough about one billion euros along with Germany's Stadtwerke Munchen (SWM) into a 80-turbine offshore wind farm in the North Sea.
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