Matra Energy Holding, a joint venture of Status Power Invest and Czech energy company EPH in which both companies own equal 50 % stakes, announced that it has completed the acquisition of 72.66 % stake in coal-fired thermal power plant Matra. Status Power Invest is owned by Opus Global, which is controlled by Hungarian businessman Lorinc Meszaros, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
With the acquisition announced last year, Status Power Invest and EPH now hold a combined 72.66 % ownership in Matrai Eromu, while a third party, the state-owned Hungarian Electricity Works (MVM) has retained a 26.15 % stake in the company. To complete the transaction, in addition to paying the purchase price, Matra Energy Holding had to obtain permission from the Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority (MEKH), as well as from the European Commission.
By purchasing the package from RWE Power and the EnBW group, Matra Energy Holding has acquired a majority stake in the power plant in Visonta in northeastern Hungary, the adjoining industrial park, the country’s largest solar power plant, and two lignite surface mines in Visonta and Bukkabrany.
Matrai Eromu is Hungary’s second biggest electricity producer, generating about 15 % of the country’s electricity. This lignite-fired thermal power plant has an installed capacity of 1.000 MW.
