Kaczmarek critical of predecessor's privatization plans

Treasury Minister Wieslaw Kaczmarek said yesterday it is unlikely that Polis h Oil and Gas (PGNiG) would begin privatization next year, as planned by the previous government. He said, "PGNiG's privatization should not be expected in 2002." However, he did not rule out the possibility of a sale going ahead through a public offering at some time in the future. Kaczmarek was also cri tical of the privatization of Polish oil consortium PKN Orlen, describing th e sale as "of little interest to the State Treasury." The Ministry will make a final decision on the sale of a 17.6% stake in the company to Hungarian oi l concern MOL by the end of the year. Referring to the sale of State-owned i nsurance giant PZU, Kaczmarek said that in view of PZU's potential and role in the economy, he considered the price pan-European holding Eureko wants to pay for a 21% stake as too low. He said that before giving the go-ahead for the sale, which would guarantee Eureko control over PZU, he wanted to clear up several issues relating to the partnership between the two companies. (Ga zeta Wyborcza, p. 22; Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 10; Puls Biznesu, p. 4; Rzeczpo spolita, p. B4) M.T.K.