Greece to push back DESFA gas grid deadline, says source

Greece’s privatization agency (TAIPED) will push back to February the deadline for the submission of binding offers for a 66 percent stake in the country’s natural gas grid operator DESFA, a source close to the process said on Monday.

"The interested parties have sought an extension, it will be granted with the deadline sometime in February. That date has not yet been set," the source said, requesting anonymity.

The deadline for the submission of binding bids, under an initial timetable, was December 22.

The asset sale is part of a privatization program undertaken by Greece under the terms of its multi-billion euro bailout. [Reuters]