Hellenic Petroleum

Greece won't backtrack on its privatization plan after its bailout ends and expects state companies to submit plans by April to make themselves more competitive, the head of its state assets fund said.

The privatization of energy firms is entering the final stage and is expected to bring radical changes to the landscape in the local market.

Tenders for offshore oil and gas exploration and exploitation west and south of Greece have attracted "strong interest" from companies exploring in the Mediterranean, the head of Greece's oil and gas resources management company said on Wednesday.

The timetable for the completion of the three privatizations in the energy sector, which has just been agreed with the country's creditors, provides for the process for Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) and Public Gas Corporation (DEPA) getting under way in March 2018 and that for the sale of 17 percent of Public Power Corporation (PPC) starting in June.

A consortium led by France’s Total moved a step closer to exploring for oil and gas off Greece, after signing a lease on Tuesday with the government for a block in the Ionian Sea.

One more multinational oil giant is about to seek a slice from the Greek hydrocarbon pie after Total, ExxonMobil, Repsol and Edison, as Italy's ENI is preparing to enter the local market, according to sources.

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.

Only by selling its holdings in major listed companies such as OTE telecom, Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) and Public Power Corporation, can Greece's privatizations program meet the targets agreed with the country's creditors.

French companies sought to win more business in Greece and to play a part in new Greek projects on Thursday, piggy-backing on French President Emmanuel Macron's two-day visit to Athens.

Greece sees Macron's first visit since he came to power in June as a vote of confidence in its economy, which is slowly emerging from a debt crisis that scared off many investors.

Total expects approval from the Greek parliament by the end of the year to explore for oil off the western coast of Greece, the French company's chief executive told a Greek newspaper.

Greece and a consortium made up of Total, Italy's Edison and Hellenic Petroleum have signed a lease agreement to search for oil and gas in the Ionian Sea.