Greece against EU proposal to sell PPC power plants

Greece disagrees with a European Union proposal to sell power plants of state utility Public Power Corp., PPC, (DEH) to boost competition in its energy sector, a senior government official said on Friday.
"We do not agree with this proposal because it presents serious legal and technical problems," Energy and Environment Ministry General Secretary Constantine Mathioudakis told Reuters.
EU officials asked Greece to sell 40% of PPC's lignite and hydro capacity to investors as part of an EU/IMF bailout plan that requires opening up the country's economy.
Mathioudakis said this was a proposal, not a demand, noting international officials were open to discuss alternatives.
"They have said that other, equivalent measures could also be implemented," he said.
Greece's socialist government has so far refused to consider selling PPC assets for fear of upsetting the company's powerful labour unions. Greek officials have instead suggested reform of the wholesale electricity market would suffice to boost competition in the sector.