Central Energy Italian Inc is an Italian gas distribution and trade company. It is a part of Central Energy, a company related to Gazprom. A deal between Italian Eni and Gazprom picked CEI as a partner delivering gas to Italy.
Investigations by members of the Italian parliament revealed that Bruno Mentasti-Granelli, who is known as a close friend of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, owns 33 percent of CEIGH through two companies, Hexagon Prima and Hexagon Seconda.[1]
The deal was denounced due to the spreading scandal.[2] Italian parliament blocked the contract, accusing Berlusconi of having a personal interest in the contract.[1]
Robert Nowikovsky, an Austrian lawyer linked to Russian operations, was one of the company's directors.[1]
The 2008 article "Berlusconi, Centrex, Hexagon 1 and 2 and Gazprom" suggested:[1]