Orlen asks for political support to back its bid for Możejki

Orlen and KazMunaiGaz from Kazakhstan were shortlisted in the tender launched by oil concern Jukos, with Orlen said to have offered the best price offer - $1.5 billion. However, the Lithuanian government, which has the pre-emptive right to buy the shares, decided to try to get a better offer from one of the Russian bidders: Lukoil and TNK-BP. After Jukos refused to sell the holding to Russian companies, the government insists on exercising its right to buy the shares for $1 billion with the intent to re-sell them. Orlen has repeatedly informed the Polish government about the negotiations but so far has not received any help. (Puls Biznesu, p. 10) A.M.