Bartimpex and Rotch to discuss Rafineria Gdanska bid

Press reports suggest that negotiations between foreign trade company Bartim pex and Rotch Energy of Britain on a joint bid for Rafineria Gdanska (RG) co uld begin within a matter of days. According to unofficial information quote d by the Puls Biznesu daily, a decision on the conditions of the partnership can be expected within a week to ten days. Rotch has been seeking a domestic entity that would be willing to join it in the RG privatization, and accordi ng to Puls Biznesu, bringing influential Bartimpex on board would improve th e position of the British investor. Bartimpex, a major gas importer, is cont rolled by entrepreneur Aleksander Gudzowaty, who has close links with the ru ling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD). However, the anonymous Puls Biznesu sou rce points out that an agreement between the two companies is far from assur ed, since Bartimpex is believed to want a major role in the decision-making at RG, and if such an arrangement cannot be guaranteed the proposed cooperat ion may never see the light of day. (Puls Biznesu, p. 4) P.J.