Edison CEO says group speeds up green investments, EDF eyes minority stake sale

By Francesca Landini and Giancarlo Navach

MILAN, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Edison's EDNn.MI green investments will increase the Italian utility's borrowing, its CEO told Reuters, adding that parent company EDF aims to sell a minority stake in the unit to avoid a rise of its own debt pile.

The Italian utility said earlier on Thursday it would start working on renewable projects with a combined capacity of over 500 megawatt (MW) next year, investing more than 600 million euros ($700 million) to roll out wind and solar farms in its home country.

"EDF has many investments to make in France, especially in the nuclear sector, and therefore the intention to open up (our) capital - only for a minority stake - is precisely to allow Edison to implement its development plan without burdening EDF's consolidated debt," Edison CEO Nicola Monti told Reuters in a interview.

EDF's advisers are currently studying ways to reduce the parent company's shareholding in Edison capital, with some indications expected early next year, Monti said, adding that EDF had not changed its plans of retaining the majority in the Italian unit.

($1 = 0.8564 euros)