Sotiris Nikas

The public fallout between Canadian mining company Eldorado Gold and the Greek government after the prior’s announcement on Monday it would suspend its large investment in the north of the country due to the government’s delays in issuing routine permits has put the leftist-led SYRIZA government at the centre of a storm of media attention, bringing up questions about whether it honestly promote

Energy Minister Giorgos Stathakis has offered his support to the head of gas grid operator DESFA, Sotiris Nikas, who allegedly hiked his own retirement bonus by some 100,000 euros.

Athens must speed up the privatization of Greek natural gas grid operator DESFA because delays in the process are having a negative impact, the company's chief executive said on Thursday.

The privatization of DESFA is part of a drive by Greece to sell state assets, which is a significant condition of the country's bailout by the European Union and IMF.

 Having secured 1-bln-euro sub-tranche from eurozone, Finance Ministry will proceed to 3-year debt issue

By Eleni Varvitsiotis and Sotiris Nikas