Belgian energy market falls into French hands

The British group Centrica wants to sell its majority stake in the Belgian utility SPE-Luminus to France's EDF. Feelings of mistrust are warranted, the business paper De Tijd writes: "At first glance it doesn't look like foreign influence would increase with this transaction: a French player takes the place of a British one. Yet this move makes a huge difference. After all, EDF is controlled by the French state, as is GDF Suez which now holds almost three quarters of the Belgian electricity market. The danger that the French partner companies are working together is realistic. … The regulatory authorities may lack sufficient grounds to prevent a takeover of SPE by EDF, but if it becomes clear that the two French groups EDF and GDF Suez are in alliance the authorities must send one of the two away."

» full article (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » Energy, » France, » Belgium
All available articles from » Stefaan Michielsen

» To the complete press review of Tuesday, May 12, 2009