Vattenfall set to name Norwegian as new CEO-paper

STOCKHOLM, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Swedish power group Vattenfall [VATN.UL] is set to name a new chief executive and the most likely candidate is Norwegian Oystein Loseth, head of Dutch subsidiary Nuon, a Swedish newspaper reported on Saturday.

Business daily Dagens Industri, quoting sources, reported that Oystein was the top pick to replace current Vattenfall chief executive Lars G Josefsson, who is due to step down when he becomes eligible for retirement next year.

The decision would be taken during an extraordinary board meeting to be held on Sunday, the paper said.

Sweden's government expressed concern on Friday over reports Vattenfall, which is owned by the state, wanted to sell the country's electricity grid to invest in British nuclear power.

Criticism from Enterprise Minister Maud Olofsson over the way Vattenfall had handled the matter led to speculation in Swedish media that Josefsson would resign within weeks.

But Josefsson told Reuters he still had the full support of Vattenfall's board of directors and had not faced demands to step down, except from a trade union. [ID:nN13478974]

The company had reviewed the possibility of selling the Swedish grid as part of wider discussions on unbundling power generation and distribution in the European Union, he said, but decided against a sale due to timing considerations.

(Reporting by Nick Vinocur)