Fluxys

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.

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.

The strategic interest of Italian gas infrastructure company Snam in the Greek gas network was confirmed on Monday with the opening of the improved financial offers for the acquisition of 66 percent of gas grid operator DESFA.

Greece's privatization agency (HRADF) on Thursday called on the two consortia that submitted binding bids for the acquisition of a 66 percent stake in the country's gas grid operator DESFA to improve their offers.

This means the preferred investor will be determined in a new round of bidding.

The deadline for the submission of binding offers for the 66 percent controlling stake in gas grid operator DESFA has been put off from December 22 to January 2018.

State sell-off fund TAIPED accepted a request to that effect submitted by candidate investors last week, as they want more time to prepare their offers.

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.