* Akenerji and CEZ interested in expected nuclear tender
* Companies do not plan to bid for power grids
* Target end-2011 to complete hydroelectric projects
(Adds quotes, details, background)
By Melis Senerdem
ISTANBUL, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Turkish power producer Akenerji
<AKENR.IS>, part-owned by Czech company CEZ <>, said it
is interested in entering a government tender for a licence to
build Turkey's first nuclear power plant.
Turkey is expected to hold another tender in 2010 after a
top court cancelled the results of last year's auction, when a
consortium with Russia's Inter RAO <IRAO.MM>, Atomstroiexport
and Turkey's Park Teknik was the only bidder, because the price
of electricity they proposed far exceeded current levels.
"The nuclear power plant is a major project, we might look
for a third partner," Akenerji Chief Executive Ahmet Umit
Danisman told Reuters in an interview.
Danisman said his company preferred a "public-private
partnership" in which the Turkish government would also invest
in the project. Companies have said securing financing for the
plant, which could cost as much as $8 billion to build, will be
difficult without a state guarantee.
Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz has said the government
is considering taking a 25 percent stake in a nuclear plant.
Such a move could help encourage more interest in the tender
after last year's auction only drew one bid, analysts said.
STATE-ASSET SALES
Akenerji and CEZ's joint venture AkCez last year bid $600
million for power distributor Sedas, which delivers some 8
terawatt hours annually to 1.3 million customers in the
northwest region of Sakarya.
AkCez does not plan to bid for any of the four remaining
grids the state is planning to sell because of the expected
cost, Danisman said.
"The pricing was far beyond our calculations. We want to see
what bids will be offered in the next one," Danisman said.
Akenerji and CEZ were eliminated from bidding for four power
distribution grids last month. Combined revenue from the sale of
three of the grids earned the government more than $1 billion.
Akenerji and its parent Akkok Group own half of AkCez, while
CEZ owns the other 50 percent. CEZ paid $302.6 million in 2008
for a 37.4 percent stake in Akenerji.
Akenerji may compete in the government's planned tenders for
coal-fired power stations, especially for large-capacity plants,
Danisman said.
Akenerji and CEZ will make a $150 million payment for the
Sedas grid in February, Danisman also said. The companies paid
half of the $600 million fee upfront, and the other half is due
in two installments over the next two years.
Separately, the state-run Industrial Development Bank of
Turkey (TSKB) <TSKB.IS> is loaning Akenerji 84 million euros
($120.4 million) for its three hydroelectric projects.
The plants, to be located in southern Turkey, will have a
total installed capacity of 64 megawatts, and Danisman said the
company targets a completion date of 2011.
Akenerji currently has 373 megawatts of installed capacity.
(Writing by Melis Senerdem, editing by Ayla Jean Yackley and
Anthony Barker)
