Econ. Min. wants to delay sale of energy distributors

Economy Minister Janusz Steinhoff wants to stop the sale of energy distributors because of delays in the power plant privatization. The Minister said the strategy for the energy sector accepted by Cabinet a few months ago must be altered. In his opinion, the quick sale of energy distributors will slow down or even stop the rapid privatization of the power plant sector. Steinhoff added the progress of the power plants' privatization process is too insignificant. This year the Treasury Ministry has managed to sell only a part of Elektrocieplownia Polaniec heating and power plant and earlier only a part of Zespol Elektrowni Patnow-Adamow-Konin had changed hands. Moreover, the deal in which the shares of Elektrownia Rybnik Power plant are to be sold has been postponed for three months already and one of the potential partners has withdrawn from the talks. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 23)