Investors, pick your Distrigaz!

Enel (Italy), Gazprom (Russia), Gaz de France (France) and Ruhrgas (Germany) have submitted preliminary bids for the controlling interests in the state-owned natural gas distribution companies Distrigaz Nord and Distrigaz Sud, the Economy and Trade Ministry representatives say. None of the four investors has picked one of two Distrigaz-es yet, although they have to make up their mind by the time they submit the final bids, as required by the privatisation announcement. Germany’s Wintershall submitted a non-binding bid for Distrigaz Nord only, considering its strategic interest in the area where it plans to develop natural gas production and storage projects. ZF