Following 2005, the days of many small petrol stations are numbered

A sizeable number of the 6,000 private petrol stations in the country are facing possible closure since they are too weak to face up to competition. Additionally, they fail to meet the EU standards concerning environmental protection which will enter force in Poland in 2005. Therefore, some of them are planning to merge, while others may be incorporated into larger networks. There are 6,727 petrol stations across the country, 48% of them are controlled by petrochemical companies. International concerns own the largest network of stations. "Some 52% of fuel stations are not affiliated, which means that they have no support from companies abundant with capital. "Losing a job, particularly in an area with high unemployment, may turn out to be a serious social issue," said Nikolay Ivchikov, the director of the Polish branch of Russian oil concern Łukoil. Several oil companies have already declared their interest in purchasing independent stations. "Excluding the price of the land, a medium size petrol station is valued at approximately $1 million," said the director of the Chamber of Liquid Fuel Distributors (PIPP) Maciej Powroźnik (Parkiet, p. 1) A.Z.