20 to 30pc of gazonor sold to a regional group

Not so good news: The delay in closing the deal was due to last minute negotiations.


LILLE - "20 to 30%" of Gazonor owned by Charbonnages de France which will be sold to Australian group European Gas Limited (EGL), should return to a regional grouping, said on Friday the PS (Parti Socialiste) deputy of Pas-de-Calais Jean-Pierre Kucheida.

"We are going to negotiate under the authority of the state in the next two months with EGL so that the grouping can come to the tune of 20 to 30% in the capital of the transaction," said Mr. AFP Kucheida "for this grouping to carry out the operations of social order he had planned."

This regional grouping, which includes Dalkia (a subsidiary of Veolia Environnement and EDF), Financial Nord-Pas-de-Calais and social housing corporation , was a candidate for the sale of Gazonor, whose assignment at the Australian EGL was announced in the fall.

Gazonor is a company to operate the gas from old mines in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais, "firedamp".

The sale had been challenged by elected officials in the Pas-de-Calais, which Mr. Kucheida, also mayor of Liévin and president of the Mining Association of Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

"On the resale price of 26 million euros, the state will give to the Solidarity Fund of the National Alliance for guaranteeing the rights of miners a total of six to seven million euros which will take into account the problem beneficiaries of the scheme for miners who have now 77 years of age, "says Kucheida, who said having negotiated with the Minister of Ecology Jean-Louis Borloo.

"Depending on their participation, the regional grouping will put its share" of 26 million euros, "said Kucheida. "And then in the operation, it will have its share also," he concluded.

(AFP / Dec. 28, 2007 18h19)

http://www.romandie.com/infos/news2/071228171904.vwwfcpit.asp (in french)