Press Release: State aid: Commission opens in-depth inquiry into preferential electricity tariffs for Aluminium of Greece

The European Commission opened on 27 January 2010 an in-depth investigation under EU state aid rules to establish whether electricity tariffs granted by the Greek state-owned Public Power Corporation to Aluminium of Greece constitute illegal state aid. In particular, the Commission will examine whether electricity is supplied below the market price. The Commission will also investigate allegations that the state-owned Public Gas Corporation paid the construction costs of a gas pipeline belonging to Aluminium of Greece. The opening of an in-depth investigation allows interested parties to comment on the measures under assessment. It does not prejudge the outcome of the procedure