Privatization list of Greece includes grids

ATHENS

Greece wants binding bids for its state-owned natural gas company and gas grid operator by the end of September and hopes to complete their sale in late autumn as it revives its privatization drive, Reuters quoted a government official as saying.

Hoping to regain credibility with international lenders keeping Greece afloat, the new conservative-led government has made speeding up privatizations a priority but has admitted delays from repeat elections in May and June. After a meeting between political leaders and the finance minister, the official said the government’s priorities also included the sale of betting firm OPAP, the old Athens airport and buildings in Athens and on the islands of Corfu and Rhodes. More than 90 percent of the privatisation program includes the lease and sale of concessions of state land and infrastructure. However, the coalition government has yet to agree on its much-anticipated 11.5 billion euros spending cuts program for 2013 and 2014, Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras said yesterday.