The Czech energy company CEZ expects profit increase from its business involvement in Bulgaria and Romania. The minimal expected increase totals 30 per cent.

CEZ expects to increase its income mainly through expenditure minimisation, Dnevnik newspaper reported.

The Bulgarian division of CEZ is expected to produce an income of 71 million euro this year. This increase represents 31 per cent, compared to the 54.2 million euro for 2005, company representatives said. CEZ's business activities in Romania are expected to double the profit.

To achieve this income raise, CEZ is currently re-structuring its international divisions, following a model of the central company in the Czech Republic. Some of the proposed changes include a decrease in the number of employees, increase in sales and centralisation.

The re-structuring is expected to produce more than 100 million euro annually. In the previous year the consolidated annual expenditure of the group totaled 3.3 billion euro.

CEZ is the majority owner of the electricity distribution companies in Sofia,  Sofia region and Pleven. The company invested 65 million leva in the minimisation of losses for 2005, company representatives said on Wednesday.