NSA halts modernization of zl. 100 mln fuel terminal

The Supreme Administrative Court (NSA) withdrew the permit for the modernization of a zl. 100 million oil terminal in Swinoujscie after protests from the ecological society Estuarium. The terminal, operated by the Porta Petrol company, has been under modernization since 1996 and was supposed to be ready in May. According to Wojciech Tluscik from the Estuarium organization, the terminal, left behind by the Soviet Army, was originally just a filling station meant to refuel ships coming to the Swinoujscie port -- the only purpose it can serve under the city's spatial development plan. Porta Petrol disagrees and says the terminal will be opened anyway. "The Polish oil sector is strongly monopolized," said Andrzej Sczesniak, head of the Polish Liquid Fuel Chamber (PIPP). "The creation of a new terminal in Swinoujscie would serve to increase competition on the market, which could positively influence fuel prices in the future." (Puls Biznesu, page 8) T.J.