Gazprom’s Miller returns to Athens for third time as gas sell-off hots up
Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller is due back in Athens on Monday, his third visit to Greece since March, as the gas giant steps up its interest in the Greek privatization process.
Gazprom is one of the suitors for the Public Gas Corporation (DEPA) and Miller visited Greece twice in March to discuss the matter.
He met Prime Minister Antonis Saamras and Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis during his visits and is thought to have secure a change in the terms of the DEPA tender process, which bind the winning bidder to submit a letter of guarantee amount to 20 percent of the purchase price.
Last week, Russia’s general consul in Greece, Alexey Popov, urged the government to choose the successful bid based on “financial criteria”.
The European Commission and the USA have expressed concerns about the possibility of Russian involvement in the Greek natural gas network.
