TAIPED

Energy Minister Giorgos Stathakis has floated the idea of the state retaining majority or even full control of the company to which Hellenic Petroleum (HELPE) will transfer the hydrocarbon surveying and utilization rights conceded to it.

State privatizations fund TAIPED and rail service operator Trainose signed the contract for the sale of 100 percent of railway carriage maintenance company Rosco on Monday.

Trainose, a 100 percent subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, will pay a price of 22 million euros.

Crete is set to see its own Elliniko project as Greece's privatization agency TAIPED draws closer to initiating an international tender process for the development of two large real estate properties on the island.

Crete is set to obtain its own Elliniko project, as the premises of the former American military base near Gournes in Iraklio is similar in type to the old Athens airport and state sell-off fund TAIPED takes its development plans to the final stage.

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.

Athens has short-listed both remaining candidates in the tender for the privatization of Hellenic Petroleum, while Brussels opened the way on Monday - in record time - for the completion of the privatization of gas grid operator DESFA.

As expected, international traders Glencore and Vitol were short-listed on Tuesday in the tender for the 50.1 percent stake in Hellenic Petroleum (HELPE) after three other bidders were dropped from the second stage.

Athens International Airport shareholders will have to pay dearly to get the 20-year extension of the airport's concession, but a deal to that effect is within sight.

Greece's creditors are forcing Transport and Infrastructure Minister Christos Spirtzis into a humiliating retreat on all fronts on the issue of the Egnatia Highway, according to the updated version of the bailout agreement.