Summary of newspapers of the previous day – 20.7.2006

Imports of Brazilian beef meat force out Czech meat from market

Beef meat in Czech bill of fare decreases. Its consumption per inhabitant last year was about 9,8 kilograms in comparison with 30 kg in 1989. The current level of consumption is under-average compared to original EU member states; for example French people eat 26 kilograms of beef meat yearly, Italians 28 and British people 40 kg. It results from data of the Czech Meat Processors Association. According to a chairman of the Association Jaromír Kloud beef meat lost its popularity probably due to a higher price in comparison with other kinds of meat. Also the affair about disease of mad cows did harm it. Considering nutrition value beef meat is very important.

Government cancelled competition for debts of Setuza

The finishing government complicated yesterday the future of a front food firm Setuza. It cancelled a public competition for purchase of four-milliard debt of Setuza which the firm has in the state. The highest offer, 815 million crowns, was in tender presented by an investment group PPF. It already before had signed also option for purchase of shares of Setuza which is a key producer of raw materials for bio-fuels. It wanted to get done the transaction by obtaining the debt. However, the government agreed yesterday with the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture Jan Mládek to cancel completely the tender. Mládek gave reasons for it that full powers for such an important decision end for the current Cabinet. It admitted also other reason: there are legal process led on validity of the outstanding debt. “Setuza needs a strategic owner of PPF type”, an enterpreneur Tomáš Pitr ,who controls Setuza, reacted.

Farmers raised prices; prices of food will increase

Prices of agricultural production literally plucked from a chain in June. Compared to May they increased by singular 9,1 percent, in comparison with the last year by 8,8 percent. The Czech Statistic Office announced it yesterday. Such significant increase in prices from one month to other has not happened here for nine years. Production prices are an indicator from which it can be read what prices will be later on counters of shops. So, have to be consumers afraid of rise in prices of food? Experts claim that the situation will not be so bad. Growth of agricultural prices happened due to plant production. Plant products are annually by 32 percent more expensive. The main deliquent is potatoes which rose in prices in the last year by 150,8 percents; vegetable is more expensive by 63,2 percents.

Wind power station are about to exceed Klínovec

Near the highest top of Krušné hory, Klínovec, a controversial building of a wind park with five 120 meters high power stations is prepared. After cont entions for “vanes” in near Boží Dar and Abertamy, where people refused the building, it is dealt with other project in Krušné hory which will invoke vigorous reactions. Not only in Czech but also in German sides of border. The power stations which should be a part of the wind park Klínovec of the company Anew should including the vanes reach the height of one hundred and twenty meters and if they are built they will become a new dominant of the landscape and will exceed even a view-tower in the top of the hill.