Enagas

The Copelouzos energy group has gained a foothold in Greek gas grid operator DESFA through the acquisition of a minority stake in European consortium Senfluga.

Three joint ventures have been selected by Cyprus in the first stage of a tender to provide a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) to import liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The first joint venture is led by China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering, Natural Gas Public Company of Cyprus (DEFA) said on its website.

Greek gas grid operator DESFA is of major strategic importance for the broader natural gas market, as its network runs along the Southern Gas Corridor to the heart of the European Union, where most new routes bringing the commodity to central European markets will pass, Marco Alvera tells Kathimerini.

The consortium of European firms Snam, Enagas and Fluxys, named Senfluga Energy Infrastructure Holdings SA, is as of Friday the new owner of the controlling stake in natural gas grid operator DESFA, almost six years after the first attempt to privatize the company.

A series of eagerly anticipated agreement conclusions in the energy sector are expected to take place in Athens and Milan on Friday.

State sell-off fund TAIPED on Thursday opened the way for the consortium of Italy's Snam, Spain's Enagas and Belgium's Fluxys to acquire 66 percent of Greece's gas grid operator DESFA, thereby strengthening the southern Europe energy axis built around the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).

A consortium of Italy's Snam, Spain's Enagas, Belgium's Fluxys submitted the highest bid in an international tender for the acquisition of a 66 percent stake in natural gas grid operator DESFA, Greece's privatization agency (TAIPED) said on Monday, after it unsealed the offers.

Greek authorities have started assessing the technical aspects of the two bids for a stake in natural gas network operator DESFA, while the financial offers will be opened on March 9.

All signs point to the price for 66 percent of DESFA topping 400 million euros, although that will also depend on the company's cash reserves when the transaction is completed.

Greece aims to get binding offers from investors shortlisted for a 66 percent stake in state-controlled natural gas grid DESFA by the end of the year, two sources close to the process said on Wednesday.

Sources from the government and the state sell-off fund (TAIPED) express their optimism for the first stage of a tender for the privatization of gas grid operator DESFA that is to be completed on Monday with the expression of interest from potential investors.