It would require much time to organize tenders to sell controlling stake in energy companies and Odesa Port-Side Plant and they could be held no earlier than late 2017 or early 2018, Deputy Head of the State Property Fund (SPF) Yuriy Nikitin has said.

"Odesa Port-Side Plant in the best case scenario is the prospect of the end of this year and the beginning of next year, and Centrenergo – the middle of next year," the SPF wrote on its Facebook page, citing Nikitin.

He said that the preparations for these tenders include attraction of advisors.

He said that in these conditions the fund believed that it is appropriate to put the blocking stakes in power generating and power supply companies up for sale on exchanges in the middle of August, setting their starting price at UAH 4.1 billion.

He said that these stakes are ready for being sold. The announcement of the tenders has aroused large interest of portfolio investors.

"Of course, the interest of investors is warmed up by the long-awaited RAB tariff, which would allow them to understand how and when they are able to return their investment. According to our information, the NCER [the National Commission for Energy, Housing and Utilities Services Regulation] could approve the entire required legislative base for the introduction of this tariff by the end of August," he said.

Nikitin said that the SPF would ensure transparency of the sale of the stakes on exchanges and the fund is actively working with the exchanges.

"We want to see as many as possible investors at these auctions, including the EBRD [the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development]," he said.