An agreement with the institutions on the PPC lignite plants that also safeguards jobs is expected to be officially concluded on Friday, Environment and Energy Minister George Stathakis said after a meeting with the heads of the institutions' missions in Athens on Tuesday, attended by Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos.

The minister said the two sides had made progress, adding that the manner and timetable for holding a tender to sell the plants will be finalised by December 1.

Stathakis said that the agreement will clear the way for a market test by the EU's General Directorate for Competition and reiterated that June 2018 remains the deadline for the final sale of PPC's plants.

On the offset measures, he estimated that will also be decided by Friday, adding that the Greek side has asked for an increase in the working hours of the Amyntaio plant.
On DEPA, Stathakis said that the ministry has tabled a proposal for restricting its role to the natural gas market only.

(Source: ANA-MPA)