Chemical sector consolidation to be led by Anwil?

Nafta Polska (NP), the state agency responsible for oil sector privatization, has been chosen to supervise the restructuring of the industrial chemicals industry. It will now have to choose an executive company to act on its behalf. Oil giant PKN Orlen is promoting its subsidiary Wloclawek based Anwil for a major role in the planned national fertilizer holding. "I think Anwil could become the leader of this group. I believe that combining the forces of several sector companies could provide consumers with a full range of fertilizers," said president of PKN Orlen Zbigniew Wrobel. However, if NP chooses to create the holding around a different company, then Orlen might seek to exchange its shares in Anwil for a stake in another sector company. "We want to refrain from commenting on our plans for the industry until we have finished our preliminary work," said Nafta Polska spokesman Krzysztof Mering. It is envisaged that Polish Oil and Gas will become part of the holding. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 8) M.M.