The Greek government is going to keep the state management of the control stock of the gas distribution company DESFA, Greek media reported referring to Panayotis Lafazanis, Greek Minister of Industrial Reforms, Environment and Energy.
Minister made this statement yesterday at the meeting with the staff of DEPA and DESFA.
Media reported that representatives of the staff disagreed with any form of privatization of DEPA and DESFA, mentioning a serious negative impact that possible sale of these companies could have no economy, consumers and employment of the Greek population.
They have also disagreed with liberalization of the Greek market of natural gas distribution promoted by the previous government, mentioning the risk of rising of gas price for the consumers in that case.
“Lafazanis said that DEPA must and will stay the state property and under the state control. As far as DESFA is concerned, after decision of the European Commission Competition Commission, the government will take efforts to keep the control stock of the company under control of the state,” said the same source.
Sale of DEPA and DESFA was considered among the key points of the Greek privatization program: Greece hoped to receive up to 1.5 billion Euro from their sale.
On July 31, 2013 Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) approved purchase of 66% shares of DESFA by SOCAR for 400 million Euro. In December 2013 State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) signed the purchase-sale agreement and the agreement between the shareholders with HRADF and Petroleum company.
Later on Greek Energy Minister Makis Papageorgiu said that SOCAR’s share in DESFA could be decreased from 66% to 49% at a later stage.
SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev said that SOCAR counts on purchase of 66% shares of Greek company, because it has won the bids.
According to the Greek legislation and the EU Third Energy Directive, the European Commission must make a final decision to approve the deal. The European Commission is expected to make a decision till the end of 2015.—0—
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