Official: Russian govt yet to mull 2017 privatization of ALROSA

MOSCOW, Dec 9 (PRIME) -- The Russian government will discuss further privatization of uncut diamond mining giant ALROSA in 2017 later, Dmitry Pristanskov, head of the Federal State Property Management Agency, told reporters on Friday.

In July, the government sold 10.9% in ALROSA cutting its stake in the company to 33%, and raising 52.181 billion rubles. In October, former Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev told reporters that the ministry plans to privatize 8% more in the company in 2017.

“Regarding the sale of ALROSA’s stake in 2017, the issue is still open, and it will be discussed during reconciliatory meetings,” Pristanskov said.

The government has also coordinated privatization of 10.9% in the country’s second largest bank VTB Bank, 25% minus one share in shipping company Sovcomflot, and a stake in Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port (NCSP) for 2017, he said.

The ministry is still studying a report of an investment adviser on Sovcomflot and discussing a possible time and options of the placement. The government is yet to approve an investment adviser for NCSP privatization chosen by the ministry – Sberbank CIB, he said.

“Speaking of the possibility of a simultaneous sale of the state stake in NCSP and the stake owned by Transneft, we’ve discussed this possibility, but I will not comment on the deal’s structure, let’s wait for a report of the investment adviser,” Pristanskov added.

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