Hope for sole producer of ferroalloys through ministry subsidized coal

The Economy Ministry is trying to save Huta Laziska (HL), a steel producer that is on the verge of bankruptcy. The ministry decided that the enterprise could buy the energy that it needs at preferential prices. Yesterday, HL representatives met with the energy provider Poludniowy Koncern Energetyczny (PKE), and the ministry assured PKE supplies of cheaper coal to generate electricity for HL. The only thing that has not been settled yet is the question of the collateral for energy payments. This would probably be covered by HL's contracts for the export of ferroalloys, of which HL is the sole producer in the country. Deputy Economy Minister Andrzej Szarawarski told Puls Biznesu that the steel works could export even all of its production, as there is a high demand for such ferroalloys in Europe. The ministry is doing everything so that HL can restart production in July, even if the preliminary analysis show that this year's production could only bring loses. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 6) A.D.