Uniper has closed the sale of its 428MW Gönyű gas-fired power plant in Hungary to French utility company Veolia.
Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.
The transaction involved the transfer of 100% of the shares in Uniper Hungary Energetikai, which owns and operates the plant, to Veolia Invest Hungary, an affiliate of Veolia.
In February 2024, Veolia reached an agreement with Uniper to purchase the gas-fired combined-cycle power plant.
Veolia’s portfolio will expand to a capacity of 2.4GW, enough to supply energy to 2.6 million people.
The Gönyű power plant, with an installed electricity production capacity of 428MW, began operations in 2011. It was refurbished in 2017 and again in 2021 to further increase its efficiency and capacity.
The divestment of this asset is a strategic move by Uniper, aligning with the conditions set by the European Union (EU) under its state aid regulations.
The sale is a part of the structural changes that Uniper is mandated to implement.
On 20 December 2022, the EU Commission sanctioned a stabilisation package aimed at supporting Uniper. This approval came with the stipulation that Uniper must adhere to a set of structural remedies.
The sale of the Gönyű power plant is a direct response to these requirements, marking Uniper's commitment to fulfilling its obligations under EU state aid law.
Veolia CEO Estelle Brachlianoff stated: “This contract is in a straight line with our ambitions to develop our flexible services, indispensable for the stability of the European electric network.”
“As historical players in the Hungarian energy market, we are happy to strengthen our presence and to contribute more to the balancing of the local electric system.”
In November 2024, Uniper entered a long-term power purchase agreement with Stegra to supply 6 terawatt hours of electricity over six years to Stegra’s plant in Boden, Northern Sweden.
The deal will run from 2027 to 2032, ensuring that the energy requirements of Stegra's green hydrogen and steel production facilities are fulfilled.
