Les géants chinois de l’électricité viennent faire leur shopping en Europe

Infographie : François Descheemaekere

Power giants go shopping in Europe

[Euractiv]

China's cash-flush state-owned power companies are going on a buying spree abroad, scooping up bargains with virtually no political opposition as Europe looks to reduce its debts.

A quarter of Portugal's power grid operator, REN, will be sold to China's State Grid Corp for €387 million, part of a wave of privatisations Lisbon has to carry out under the terms of its €78-billion European Union/International Monetary Fund bailout loan.
On Wednesday (8 February), the State Grid News, the Chinese company's official publication, said the need by struggling economies to sell off state-owned assets "created entry opportunities" for China, and the deal would provide a springboard into other markets. The State Grid isn't the first to take advantage of Europe's troubles, and is not expected to be the last.

Lire : euractiv.com/