‘Final talks’ on gas grid tomorrow

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Officials hope to finalize the long lingering privatization of Ankara’s gas grid.

Final negotiations on the privatization of an 80 percent stake in Başkent Doğalgaz, Ankara’s natural gas grid, will be conducted tomorrow, according to sources close to the matter, Anatolia news agency reported yesterday.

An option to pay half of the tender price in advance and the rest in installments after two years will be available, the sources said.

Among the firms that have shown interest in the tender are Akfen, Aksa, Kolin-Cengiz-Limak, Aygaz, Torunlar, Global Investment, STFA, Chinese ENN and a large Saudi Arabian fund allied with local partners.

Turkey’s Privatization Administration (ÖİB) earlier said many privatizations would be finalized this year. The privatization of many state-owned interests, including Başkent Doğalgaz, has seen multiple delays or cancelations, mainly because winning bidders have often failed to meet requirements. The deadline to place bids for the privatization of the remaining 20 percent share in Başkent Doğalgaz has been postponed until May 17.