Italian energy giant Italgas ready to submit binding offer for DEPA Infrastructure

Interview to George Kanellopoulos

Italgas is ready to submit a binding offer for DEPA Infrastructure. In an interview with Ta Nea, the CEO of Italgas Mr. Paolo Gallo expresses the explicit interest of the Italian giant company in the energy sector to invest in Greece. According to Mr. Gallo Italgas is well equipped to participate in the major infrastructure development in the gas sector and states that the Italian company can realize this project for the benefit of the Greek people.

-Italgas is among the potential investors in the HRADF (Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund) tender for the 100% privatization of DEPA Infrastructure. Is your interest still valid and will you submit a binding offer?

We are ready to submit a binding offer. We were ready in March and we confirm our intention. Our interest is concrete for two main reasons: firstly, we consider Greece as a country very similar to ours, both from an infrastructural and regulatory point of view, and this would give us the opportunity to work in a familiar environment; the other aspect concerns the many infrastructural developments that the country's methanization project requires.

Today, the gas distribution in Greece is mainly located in the areas of Athens and Thessaloniki. The other territories require a major program of interventions, and therefore investments, especially if we consider the Greek government's lignite and coal phase out plans which also require a major infrastructure development in the distribution sector. As you can imagine, we are well equipped to do this. As a matter of fact, Italgas, with almost two centuries of history, is one of the most long-lasting companies in the sector in Europe and is unanimously acknowledged as the company that...