The Italian gas company ENI has promised to sell three gas pipelines in a bid to persuade the EU to drop an antitrust probe.

The European Commission said today that it will put the offer out for public consultation, a sign that its competition officials believe it could address the antitrust concerns.

“I consider these proposals as a very positive step forward,” said Neelie Kroes, the European commissioner for competition.

The Commission launched its antitrust investigation into ENI in May 2007 because of concerns that the company was blocking competitors’ access to the transport infrastructure needed to import gas into Italy, to the detriment of consumers.

“Our concerns were that ENI in particular hoarded pipeline capacity and deliberately underinvested in transport capacity,” Kroes said.

Kroes said that ENI had offered to fully divest shares “in all gas transport pipelines where we had competition concerns”, namely the TAG, TENP and Transitgas.

“These remedies have the potential to improve access to the Italian gas markets and contribute to an integrated and competitive single European energy market,” the commissioner said.

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