Gas Trading may survive through new Russian contract

Bartimpex owner Aleksander Gudzowaty has announced that Gas Trading, of whic h he controls 36.17%, stands a chance of escaping liquidation as the company , which holds a 4% stake in EuRoPol Gaz, has reportedly been offered a contr act by an unspecified Russian firm. Gudzowaty said that if Gas Trading start s yielding profits, there is no reason to shut it down. The idea of liquidat ing Gas Trading came about late last year when the company stopped receiving gas from Russia's Gazprom. This idea was supported by Polish Oil and Gas (PG NiG) which controls a stake of over 43%. The project was halted, however, by Russian shareholder Gazexport, controlling almost 16%, and owned by Gazprom. Gudzowaty also announced future plans concerning projects involving Polish c hemical plants. In return Bartimpex expects to receive fertilizers, which it hopes to sell on the domestic market. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B4) A.K.