27.6.2012 Official Journal of the European Union L 166/83 DECISIONS COMMISSION DECISION of 13 July 2011 on the State aid No SA.26117 — C 210 (ex NN 62/09) implemented by Greece in favour of Aluminium of Greece SA (notified under document C(2011) 4916) (Only the Greek text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2012/339/EU) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 108(2) thereof, Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof, Having regard to the decision by which the Commission decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 108(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (!), Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provisions cited above, and having regard to their comments, Whereas: I. PROCEDURE (1)  In July 2008 the Commission received two complaints alleging aid in favour of Aluminium of Greece and its successor company Aluminium SA, 100 % successor of Aluminium of Greece in the aluminium production since July 2007 (hereinafter referred to jointly as AoG). The complaints concerned two alleged State aid measures; a preferential electricity tariff and the construction of a gas pipeline linking AoG to the main grid. (2) By letter dated 27 January 2010 the Commission informed Greece that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 108(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU’) in respect of the measures. (3)  Greece submitted its comments to the Commission’s opening decision on 31 March 2010. () O] C 96, 16.4.2010, p. 7. (4)  The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (3). The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments on the measures. (5)  The Commission received comments from two interested parties: from AoG on 12 May 2010 and 4 May 2011 and from Public Power Corporation (hereinafter: PPC), the State owned company which applied one of the alleged measures (privileged electricity tariff), on 17 May 2010. The comments were transmitted to Greece which was given the opportunity to react; its comments were received on 16 July 2010, 6 August 2010 and 16 May 2011. (6)  The Commission requested additional information from the Greek authorities on 1 December 2010, to which Greece replied by letter of 11 February 2011. II. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ALLEGED AID II(a) THE BENEFICIARY (7)  AoG is a large company, located in the region of Viotia, Greece. It is active in the production of aluminium as raw material. In July 2007, AoG was split into two newly created companies, after a division of sectors: (a) Aluminium SA and (b) Endessa Hellas SA. Aluminium took over the aluminium production and Endessa Hellas took over the electricity production (AoG had acquired permits for electricity production a few years earlier). Therefore, Aluminium is the 100 % successor of AoG in the aluminium production. AoG also owns three elec- tricity production units, located next to its aluminium plant. In 2009 it had a turnover of EUR 427,3 million (with EBT of EUR 34,4 million) and 960 employees. In 2006 (year before the aid measures under scrutiny) it had a turnover of EUR 470,9 million (23 % increase since 2005), with EBT of EUR 102,5 million (39 % increase since 2005), and 1047 employees. It belongs to the private business group ‘Mitilineos S.A.’ since 2005. (?) See footnote 1.