BRATISLAVA, December 6, (WEBNOVINY) — The Slovak Republic has approximately 27 million tons of redundant AAU allowances of greenhouse gases for sale next year. In line with the law, they can be sold directly, indirectly, or auctioned until the end of 2012, spokeswoman of the Environment Ministry Beatrice Hudakova informed SITA news agency. She further said that Slovakia has not yet sold its AAU allowances for 2011, adding that the future development on the AAU market will depend on negotiations in Cancun, Mexico [UN Climate Change Conference – editor’s note] and other discussions on climate change. According to the Environment Ministry’s information, the price range per ton of AAUs is currently from 5 to 7 euro. Two years ago, the ministry, led by the SNS party sold 15 tons of emission quota at EUR 5.05 per ton. The sale was criticized in particular by then opposition deputies for the disadvantageous price compared with neighboring countries. The current leadership of the ministry does not yet talk about potential buyers of Slovakia’s AAUs. “In this phase, it is premature to respond to this question,” the ministry’s spokeswoman said.
The U.S.-registered „garage“ firm Interblue Group LLC, to which Slovakia sold the emission quota at then disadvantageous price, ceased to exist last December. It still owes Slovakia EUR 15 million in an agreed-upon bonus for spending the proceeds from the sale on green projects (GIS). A Swiss-based firm Interblue Group Europe claimed to have become the successor of the U.S. firm. The Environment Ministry has not recognized the firm as the buyer’s successor. The ministry is still trying to get the 15-million euro bonus with the help of its lawyers. The department is prepared to lodge a criminal motion if necessary.
SITA
