At least ten groups have put forward their candidacy for the acquisition of ELETTROGEN, the electricity production company regrouping eight power stations (5,500 megawatts in total) that the Italian ENEL has put up for sale in the framework of the electricity market liberalisation. Among the candidates are the oil group ENI, allied on this occasion with the Belgian TRACTEBEL (French group SUEZ LYONNAISE DES EAUX). In case of a success, both will reduce their stakes in the company acquired to 30% each, reserving the remaining 40% to a financial partner. The other candidates are the consortiums ENERGIA ITALIANA (formed from the Italian CIR, the Austrian VERBUND, the American MIRANT), MPGEN (lead by the Italian MERLONI), the Spanish ENDESA and the consortium ITALPOWER (formed from the local authority service companies of Rome, Milan and Turin and the Swiss company ATEL). See EI on November 2000.