Presidential secretariat supports Oblenergo privatizations

Alexander Shlapak, first deputy head of the presidential secretariat, said yesterday that the president supports the privatization of Oblenergos. According to Shlapak, the sector is already largely in private hands and the advantages of the government remaining involved are limited. Shlapak said the main concern over selling the government’s stakes now is achieving a satisfactory price. Yegor Samusenko: Though Shlapak’s statement cannot be taken as the official position of the president, it sheds the light on the presidential secretariat’s views. Currently, both the SPF and Cabinet of Ministers are for privatization, leaving only the president to oppose it. The news increases the chances that the privatization of Oblenergos will start in 2009.