Energy reps discuss privatization with Treasury Minister

Today the representatives of 23 energy distributors are to discuss transformation of the energy sector with Treasury Minister Wieslaw Kaczmarek. Before the end of June the project should be analyzed by the so-called Marek Belka team. On June 25 the team was supposed discuss the concept of restructuring, consolidation, and privatization of energy distributors but the Treasury Ministry, which is currently in the process of preparing its own transformation project, is said to have requested a postponement of the discussion. The Economy Ministry meanwhile, independently of the treasury, has its own alternative. The two projects are said to differ significantly and it is still unknown which will be discussed by the Belka team. It is possible that both will be taken into consideration as it is unlikely that the two ministries, which are competing for power in the energy sector, are in agreement. Apart from the G-8 group, Stoen and privatized Gornoslaski Zaklad Elektroenergetyczny (GZE), the Treasury Ministry wants five consolidated distribution concerns to operate on the market. According to the Economy Ministry's project, the 32 non-privatized energy distributors should be divided into three groups each consisting of 8 to 13 companies. (Puls Biznesu, p. 7) A.Z.