Rada MPs Set Vote To Put UTEL & Odesa Portside On 2007 Privatization List Today

Last night the Rada’s Economic Policy Committee decided to put forward a draft law that will include Ukrtelecom (UTEL: BUY) and the Odesa Portside Plant on the 2007 privatization list to the Rada to be voted on today. Alexander Paraschiy/Vladimir Nesterenko: The idea of privatizing UTEL in 2007 came from the President a week ago. The main reasoning for its privatization is the company’s inefficiency under state control. With Odessa Portside the situation is more uncertain. The plant, with its ammonia pipeline and choice location in Yuzhny port was one of the gems of the state’s privatization targets before the hike in gas prices put a damper on the industry, now it is not clear whether the state wants to sell the company as a whole or in parts, keeping its transshipment facilities in state hands.