An auction to sell 99.567% shares of public joint-stock company Odesa Port-Side Plant could be held in the third decade of July, Head of the State Property Fund (SPF) Ihor Bilous has said.

"In July will be the auction [to sell] Odesa Port-Side Plant, in the third decade of July," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Monday.

Deputy SPF Head Andriy Haidutsky noted that the fund is waiting for the publication of the government's decision to approve the starting price and conditions of the privatization of Odesa Port-Side Plant made last week.

"We hope that during the week we will announce the auction date," Haidutsky said.

At a meeting on May 18 the government approved the starting price of 99.567% shares in Odesa Port-Side Plant at UAH 13.175 billion ($521 million at the current exchange rate). The tender will be held only if two bidders take part (one is a nonresident). Companies from Russia would not be allowed to participate in the auction.