RWE reviews options for stake in high-voltage power grid Amprion (updated)

Elia SA

07/05/2024 09:29

(Recasts with company comment, context)
       BERLIN/FRANKFURT, May 7 (Reuters) - RWE  RWEG.DE ,
Germany's biggest electricity producer, is considering options
for its minority stake in Amprion, one of Germany's four
high-voltage power transmission networks, the company said on
Tuesday, potentially paving the way for a sale.
        "In view of the high capital requirements for grid
expansion, we are currently examining various options and
financing possibilities in relation to our Amprion investment,"
a spokesperson for RWE said in emailed comments.
  
        Handelsblatt earlier reported, citing sources familiar
with the matter, that RWE was considering selling its 25.1%
stake in Amprion and that a sales process could possibly start
this year.
    RWE late last year said it was open to talks about a
possible sale of its Amprion stake, as efforts in Germany to
restructure ownership of power networks is picking up pace.
        Last year, Berlin bought a minority stake in EnBW's
 EBKG.DE  TransnetBW and is currently in discussions with the
Dutch government to take over the German operations of grid
operator TenneT  IPO-TTH.AS .
  
        Via state lender KfW  KFW.UL , the German government
also owns a minority stake in Elia's 50Hertz, fuelling
expectations that Berlin could at some point combine its grid
holdings as a way to better control critical energy
infrastructure.
  

 (Writing by Miranda Murray and Christoph Steitz, editing by
Andrey Sychev)
 ((Miranda.Murray@thomsonreuters.com;))