Kinstellar has successfully advised Veolia on the acquisition of an additional 15% stake in Veolia Energie ČR from ČEZ, increasing its shareholding to more than 98%. This transaction marks a significant milestone in Veolia’s long-term collaboration with ČEZ and further strengthens its position in the Czech energy market. Kinstellar provided comprehensive legal support throughout the transaction, including due diligence, negotiation of transaction documents, and regulatory aspects. The deal aligns with Veolia’s GreenUp strategy, focusing on the transition to cleaner, local, and decarbonised energy sources. The Kinstellar team was led by Kamil Blažek (Partner) and included Michal Forýtek (Counsel), Matěj
Kinstellar is delighted to announce that Harald Strahberger has joined our newly launched Vienna office as a Partner. His addition strengthens our public law and regulatory capabilities, further enhancing the firm’s expertise in Austria and across the wider Central and Eastern European region. With extensive experience advising national and international clients across all aspects of public law, Harald specialises in environmental law (including facility, waste, and water regulations), energy law, trade law, data protection, and state aid law. He also has a strong background representing clients in administrative proceedings and before Administrative Courts, the Supreme Administrative Court, the Austrian Constitutional
Kinstellar Budapest is proud to have advised the Hungarian MVM Group on the project to build a major new 500 MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant in North-East Hungary—a key milestone in Hungary’s transition towards a more sustainable energy system. The new state-of-the-art CCGT power plant will replace low-efficiency and high-emission aged lignite-fired power plant assets, and support thereby the further deployment of renewable energy sources in Hungary. Kinstellar Budapest advised the MVM Group from the initial stages of structuring the project, through the drafting and negotiation with several potential bidders of the Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) contract, as well as the Long-Term Service
We are excited to release the first edition of the Report | Energy and Natural Resources Trends in the CEE and Central Asia for the year 2025. This comprehensive report provides an overview of the latest and emerging developments in the energy and natural resources sector across Kinstellar’s jurisdictions, with a particular focus on the opportunities and advancements in renewable energy, battery energy storage systems, hydrogen, nuclear, or oil & gas—each tailored to the specific energy landscape in: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Designed for investors and industry professionals, the report brings forward an overview of the
Effective 31 January 2025, Government Decree No. 7/2025 has revised the feed-in-tariff rates for renewable power plants that are part of the feed-in-tariff (“FiT”) system in Hungary. The Decree took effect on the day it was announced, making it currently enforceable and applicable. The key amendments are outlined as follows: Starting in 2025, the annual indexation for FiT power generators will be discontinued until the state of danger declared in relation to the war in Ukraine concludes, but no later than 2029. The exception to the above rule is if the annual average inflation in Hungary exceeds 6%. FiT power generators will no longer be subject to the “Robin Hood” tax applied to
Kinstellar is pleased to announce the promotion of Mario Kijanović from our Belgrade office to Managing Associate. Mario’s expertise spans a variety of sectors, including renewable energy projects, commercial and industrial leasing, acquisitions, disposals, and complex capital transactions. He has assisted a wide range of clients, from the public sector to some of the world’s largest property and renewable energy project developers. Mario has provided advisory services on major acquisitions for leading international clients such as Two Rivers, Besico, and Strabag, further solidifying his reputation as a trusted advisor. Mario is also recognized as a Rising Star in Real Estate and Construction by Legal 500
Kinstellar Budapest, acting as the lead counsel for Hungary, has successfully closed the landmark Project Bluesky transaction, advising the Hungarian Power Exchange (HUPX) and the Hungarian Transmission System Operator, MAVIR. As part of the particularly complex Project Bluesky transaction, EMS (Serbian Transmission System Operator), ELES (Slovenian Transmission System Operator) and EPEX SPOT (European Power Exchange SE) agreed to the cross-border transformation of the Slovenian ADEX Skrupina holding company, into a Hungarian company, ADEX Szervezett Villamosenergia-piac Holding (ADEX HU). Kinstellar advised on the Hungarian law aspects and implementation of the cross-border transformation, while ODL Law Firm acted as
Kinstellar is delighted to announce that Emőke Kovács, an accomplished legal practitioner in energy law, has joined the firm’s Budapest office as Of Counsel. With an extensive and well-established career in the energy sector, Emőke’s expertise further enhances the strength and reputation of our energy law team. With over 20 years of experience working at energy companies and law firms, Emőke is a highly respected and trusted legal expert in the field. She focuses on advising clients from the electricity and gas industries on regulatory matters, as well as a wide range of issues within the energy sector. Emőke has significant experience in electricity and gas trading, energy and heat distribution, and compliance
Romania is set to hold its first contracts for difference (“CfD”) auction in the next few weeks. The Ministry of Energy has taken further steps and issued the order for initiating the CfD auction under the CfD scheme. On 6 September 2024, Order No. 1290/2024, approving the launch of the first auction for the State aid scheme in the form of contracts for difference for the production of electricity from renewable sources of onshore wind and solar photovoltaic energy, as well as the rules of the procedure for the first auction (“Order 1290/2024”), was published in the Official Gazette of Romania and entered into force on the same date. The total capacity targeted is 1,500 MW of renewables; specifically
Kinstellar is delighted to announce that we have successfully advised China Southern Power Grid International on its acquisition of a 35% stake in ACWA Power Bash Wind Project Holding Company Limited and ACWA Power Uzbekistan Wind Project Holding Company holding 100% in Bash and Dzhankeldy Uzbek project companies, respectively. The projects represent a combined 1 GW capacity and over USD 1.3 billion of investments. This transaction marks the first acquisition of large-scale renewable energy projects in Uzbekistan. Each of Bash and Dzhankeldy wind farm plants is developed based on a ‘Build, Own, Operate, Transfer’ model and consists of 79 wind turbines (158 turbines in total) that will generate 3,235 gigawatt-hours
Kinstellar has advised Canadian Nuclear Partners (a subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation, one of the world’s largest power generators, and a corporation wholly owned by the Government of Ontario) on the framework agreement for the refurbishment of Unit 1 at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, operated by the state-owned nuclear energy producer, Nuclearelectrica. The framework agreement has an approximate value of EUR 240 million and represents a critical milestone in completing the refurbishment of Unit 1. Canadian Nuclear Partners will support Nuclearelectrica with the delivery of project management services, technical assistance, consultancy services and professional training specific for the refurbishment of
Kinstellar is proud to have advised the MOL Group, a leading international integrated oil and gas company, in connection with legal aspects of the MOL Group’s flagship EUR 1.3 billion new polyol complex in Tiszaújváros, Hungary. The new polyol complex, which has just been inaugurated, has the capacity of producing around 200,000 tonnes of polyol per year, and providing long-term employment for nearly 300 people. This landmark project had started in 2017 and Kinstellar has been assisting MOL in connection with the project from 2020. As a result of this project MOL has become the first company in the CEE region to have a fully-integrated value chain from crude oil to polyol production. The Kinstellar team