MADRID, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The Spanish government has

authorised BlackRock ( BLK ) to take the 20% stake in power

utility Naturgy it bought when taking over investment

fund GIP in January, the Cinco Dias newspaper reported on

Wednesday, citing sources at the Economy Ministry.

Foreign companies must secure government approval when

buying large stakes in listed Spanish companies deemed

strategic. BlackRock ( BLK ) became a Naturgy shareholder when it bought

GIP in a deal valued at $12.5 billion earlier this year.

A spokesperson at the Economy Ministry confirmed the

approval.

Other large shareholders in Naturgy are Spanish holding

company Criteria with a 26.7% stake and Australian fund IFM with

a 15.01% stake, LSEG data shows.

($1 = 0.8994 euros)