Just as Swedish energy giant Vattenfall has given its backing to the EU's initiative to create a unified energy policy, which is underpinned by the philosophy of open market forces, a group of heavy industrial companies from the utility's domestic arena have called for it to be partially privatized to improve the market dynamic of the local sector.
<p>According to Utility Week, Swedish industry cooperative ENERGYIndustry has called on the Stockholm government to part-privatize the energy giant. The group of heavy energy users is concerned with the rising costs of energy and Vattenfall's relatively unchecked power to implement such changes. <br /><br />ENERGYIndustry member companies want the opportunity to buy stakes in Vattenfall so that they will have a say over energy prices. This, they say, will be beneficial to Sweden's industrial sector.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the group believes that if the government sells its shares in Vattenfall, which it is reportedly considering, it would benefit from being released from its financial responsibility, while Vattenfall would benefit from private investment.</p>