Energy Minister against selling of 17pct of PPC

Referring to the amendment that reduced the transit fee of the natural gas and speculations on the withdrawal of Socar, Skourletis clarified that "the TAP pipeline is constructed rapidly and everything indicates that the Greek part will be the first that will be ready. He also noted that regarding Hellenic Gas Transmission Operator (DESFA) privatisation it is up to the Azeris to decide what they want and can do.

With this amendment, explains Skourletis we avoided the increase of the user charges by 68 percent and we protected the domestic production and the households. "If the tender fails then all scenarios are open. Every cloud has a silver lining" he said. At a question if the apparent rapprochement between Russia and Turkey will bring the South Stream pipeline on stage again, Skourletis noted that "its construction is not against the European strategies. We are positive on the prospect of its construction".

He called a political success for the government the implementation of the plan for the new Independent Power Transmission Operator (ADMIE) because as he said "guarantees the power network's public character. It is a model that we must also implement in other sectors".