Orlen and Grupa Lotus likely to clash over plans for Czechowice Refinery

Competition on the zł. 1 billion lubricating oils market between PKN Orlen and Grupa Lotos is about to intensify. According to sources, Orlen wants to accelerate its takeover of Czechowice Refinery's lubricating oils unit. "We want to work more closer with the southern refineries," said Orlen president Zbigniew Wróbel. However, exactly a week ago, the Treasury Minister agreed to merge the refineries with Grupa Lotus. "We did not receive any documents, so we cannot comment on anything," explained the president of Czechowice Refinery Henryk Malesa. However, a few months ago, the Płock-based company prepared the whole strategy relating to the southern refineries, but Nafta Polska rejected it. Last year Czechowice Refinery earned zł. 10.3 million instead of a projected zł. 24 million. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 7) M.M.