Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme favors Eni SpA (E) as the buyer of utility Suez SA's (SZEZY) majority stake in Distrigas (DIST.BT) because it wants to expand the country's Zeebrugge natural gas hub, Italian daily MF reports Thursday, without citing its source.
Eni is vying with power giants Electricite de France SA (1024251.FR) and Germany's E.ON AG (EOA.XE) for the 57.3% stake Suez is selling in Belgian gas supplier Distrigas.
Last month, Eni Chief Executive Paolo Scaroni told Dow Jones Newswires the Italian energy company is strongly committed to buying the stake. If Eni manages to buy the stake in Distrigas it would expand Zeebrugge, he added.