DK demands release of details on Mátrai plant sale

The opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) has demanded the public release of the details surrounding the sale of Mátrai Erőmű, which operates Hungary’s second-biggest power plant, to the state-owned Hungarian Electricity Works (MVM).

DK spokesman Balázs Barkóczi noted at a press conference that the Hungarian state is due to buy back Mátrai Erőmű from listed holding company Opus Global on Monday.

Barkóczi accused the government and MVM executives of “being sneaky and silent” on the sale.

He also noted that Lőrinc Mészáros, a businessman linked to the Hungarian prime minister who controls Opus, received more than 8 billion forints (EUR 23.6m) in dividends from Mátrai Erőmű last year.

“Let there be no doubt that he will make billions on this sale, too,” Barkóczi said.

He said DK was also calling for an investigation into the extent of environmental damage caused by the recent leakage of polluting gases near the site of the Mátrai coal-fired power plant. The party spokesman said

the wheat starch factory responsible for the leakage, Viresol, was also linked to Mészáros.

In response to a question, Barkóczi said the Mátrai plant had been profitable for decades and had only started incurring losses after it was taken over by Mészáros.

Read alsoApproaching catastrophe near the Mátra Power Plant in Hungary? – video

Source: mti