Top Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) officials offered assurances yesterday to the General Meeting of stockholders that the company – which is undergoing privatisation – will conduct no transactions with Iran that are not fully guaranteed in the framework of international politics.
The shareholders meeting was held to approve the sale of the Hellenic Gas Transmission System Οperator (DESFA), after the withdrawal of the US government from the 2015 international agreement with Iran and the possibility that sanctions will be imposed.
Aside from the import of crude oil from Iran, which represent 20 percent of ELPE’s procurement, ELPE is in the process of paying off old debt to the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).
ELPE officials say there are alternatives if crude purchases from Iran must be terminated.
The General Meeting yesterday approved the sale of 35 percent of DESFA to the SNAM-Enagas-Fluxys consortium. At the same time, Greece’s main privatisation vehicle, the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (TAIPED), is selling its 31 percent share in DESFA to the same consortium.
