Nafta president supports PKN Orlen's participation in IGCC project

The project of constructing the $540 million Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) installation is to be a part of the offset deal. To be located in the Grupa Lotos refinery and would also allow the company to increase its processing capacity of oil from the current 4.5 million tones to 6 million tones annually. Shell, Kellog Brown & Root and German DSD will also participate in the project. According to Lotos plans, foreign companies would take over 40% in the new venture called Lotos Ekoenergia. Parkiet information says, the partners, especially Shell, do not want to agree to such a division of power. Lotos planned to sign financing agreements in August, but has so far not reached agreement with foreign partners. Płock-based Orlen is also interested in taking part in the IGCC project, but its vision is somewhat different from the one shared by Lotos. The president of Nafta Polska, Maciej Gierej supports the idea of Orlen's participation in the project. (Parkiet, p. 3) M.M.