The Minister of Environment and Energy Panos Skourletis announced that the sale of a 66% stake in national natural gas system operator DESFA to the state Azeri oil company SOCAR will conclude by the end of 2016.

Mr. Skourletis further told journalists that the government does not intend to sell the DESFA shares held by Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE). He added that are no further plans for privatizations in the energy sector.