INTERVIEW-Bulgaria may list energy monopolies stakes in '08

By Anna Mudeva

SOFIA, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Bulgaria may list minority stakes in its state gas and power monopolies on its bourse at the start of 2008 if the ruling coalition approves the long-debated plan, the economy and energy minister said on Wednesday.

Petar Dimitrov said his Socialist-led government would not consider full privatisation of gas monopoly Bulgargaz and power utility NETC as they wanted to protect consumers and ensure that domestic energy prices remained low.

"We have been discussing the creation of a joint energy holding, a minority stake in which will be listed on the bourse," the minister told Reuters in an interview.

"It could be done in the beginning of next year. The strategy is ready. If there is a political will it will be implemented," he added.

Sofia's move to lump the two companies together would be at odds with a European Commission plan to open markets for more competition and force energy utilities to separate energy generation from transmission networks.

But Dimitrov said the proposed combination of Bulgargaz and NETC into a joint holding company followed a wave of consolidation in western Europe.

"All energy giants in Europe move towards consolidation. We have no reasons to be happy with small energy companies," he said.

The two Bulgarian companies are small players on the European market but are expected to attract strong investor interest.