SPE LUMINUS IN THE HANDS OF EDF

[BIZ: Liège, April 17]
The British Energy group, Centrica, is considering selling its 51% of the Belgian energy supplier SPE Luminus to the French Electricité de France (EdF). The companies expect to have completed negotiations within a few weeks. There is, however, no guarantee that they will reach an agreement. In exchange for the interest in Luminus, Centrica would get 25% of British Energy. The French group was a candidate to take over SPE Luminus last year from Gaz de France, but the British company Centrica made use of its priority right at that time. If the sale of Luminus goes through, this would mean that Belgium’s electricity production would be virtually completely in French hands. Electrabel is in the hands of GdF Suez. Electrabel and Luminus have, together, 90% of Belgian electric-power production in their hands.

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