Decision on G8 sale to become public within next few days

Selling G8 to EL-Dystrybucja, controlled by Jan Kulczyk, may cause a political uproar as he plans to buy only 25% of shares of each plant with the remaining shares being traded on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. This in turn poses the threat that theoretically anyone could then take over G8's control. The sale of G8, one of the largest electricity suppliers in the country, will result in 13% lower profits than that which followed 2002's sale of the STOEN power plant in Warsaw. The Government's rush to privatize G8 is seen to be part of an accelerated privatization process aimed at raising zł.8.8 billion for the budget. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. B2) J.J.