A team of technocrats representing the country’s lenders – with European Commission officials at the helm – is expected in Athens at the beginning of next week for a preliminary inspection of the progress of energy-sector reforms ahead of the country’s second post-bailout review, energypress sources have informed.

Greece’s energy-sector privatizations are expected to dominate the meetings of technocrats with energy ministry officials. The main power utility PPC’s bailout-required disinvestment of lignite units, a slow-moving process not exciting investors as much as the sellers would like, will be placed under the spotlight.

The review is scheduled to begin on January 21 while its conclusions should be announced on February 27.

The results will be crucial for the Greek economy’s prospects as these will play a pivotal role in the country’s ability to soon reenter capital markets.

The visiting officials have already lined up a series of meetings with various local energy sector authorities, including officials at the energy ministry, RAE (Regulatory Authority for Energy), electricity producers, industrial energy consumers and RES producers.