Gas supply cut for debt-ridden fertilizer producer ELFE

ELFE (Hellenic Fertilizers and Chemicals), struck by a third successive court rejection of an appeal filed by the debt-ridden company in an effort to secure temporary gas supply from DEPA, the Public Gas Corporation, had its supply line cut off as of Saturday, sources have informed.

An Athens Court of First Instance delivered the latest verdict against ELFE on Friday as a follow-up to two previous unfavorable court decisions on September 22 and October 4.

Once again, the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), Greece’s main private-sector union, as well as the Kavala Labor Center and the Panhellenic Energy Organization (POE) all testified in favor of DEPA, calling for maintenance of legality and transparency at ELFE.

In 2015, ELFE transferred its business activities and assets to a number of other companies, including Ellagrolip, PFIC and Nea Karvali Lipasmata (Fertilizers). Investigations, including money laundering probes, are currently in progress.

ELFE’s debt is believed to have reached 110 million euros.