Fluxys

Greece has received two binding bids for a 66 percent stake in its gas grid operator DESFA, the Greek privatization agency (TAIPED) said on Friday, a sale that is a key condition of the country's international bailout.

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.

State sell-off fund TAIPED on Friday short-listed two bidders for the second round of the tender for 66 percent of gas transmission network operator DESFA.

They are Regasificadora del Noroeste and the consortium of Snam, Enagas Internacional, Fluxys and NV Nederlandse Gasunie.

The executive board of Greece's privatization agency, the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (TAIPED), is set to approve a short list of candidates for the acquisition of a 66 percent stake in natural gas transmission system operator DESFA.

Greece received six expressions of interest for the sale of a 66% stake in state natural gas grid operator DESFA, the country’s privatization agency (HRADF) said in a press release on Monday.

The investor groups that responded to the tender are:

There were expressions of interest from Europe, the USA and Qatar on Monday for a majority stake in Greece's natural gas transmission system operator DESFA.

The Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (TAIPED) managed to attract the interest of six bidders for the 66 percent stake in the gas firm. Most of the investors are from Europe.

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.

A few hours after the breakdown in talks between Athens and Azeri state company Socar concerning the acquisition of a 66 percent stake in DESFA by the latter, it became known that Greece's gas grid operator has attracted the interest of its Romanian peer Transgaz, while the interest of Belgian operator Fluxys remains unchanged. This creates expectations for a successful new tender.

Four families in Albania have submitted complaints to the European Investment Bank, EIB, over the low level of compensation they have been offered from TAP representatives for the displacement of their properties as a result of building the pipeline.

Shareholders in the Trans Adriatic Pipeline designed to carry gas from Azerbaijan to Europe via Turkey and Greece, are working to double its capacity, a Greek daily reports.

Their move comes against the background of Russia's decision to botch the South Stream project announced last week, Kathimerini writes.