"I would describe the discussions as fact-based and unemotional," he said after presenting first-half results. Schmitz said he continues to expect a deal in the second half of the year.

RWE is demanding 1.2 billion to 1.5 billion euros (£1.11 billion - £1.4 billion) of compensation per gigawatt of coal capacity it has to shut down as part of Germany's plan to exit the energy source.

(Reporting by Christoph Steitz and Vera Eckert; Editing by Michelle Martin)