PGNiG puts forward disgraceful tender conditions

The Competition and Consumer Protection Office (UOKiK) wants to analyze the details of the tender announced by Polish Oil and Gas (PGNiG) for deliveries of up to 2 billion cubic meters of gas by the end of 2004. "We may start investigating this issue," said Marcin Kolasiński, director of Industry and Infrastructure Department in UOKiK. According to companies taking part in the tender, the conditions proposed by PGNiG are not realistic and could hardly be met, as the company made use of its monopolistic market position. "It has reserved the right to buy 10% of the ordered amount and demanded financial guarantees from the suppliers without giving any to us," said an anonymous representative of one of the companies taking part in the tender. He added that the penalties to be paid by PGNiG, in case of late payment, were set at 2%, which means that, "PGNiG will find it worth delaying payments as if it keeps the money in the bank and pays the penalty interest it will still make a profit," stressed the source. ALC, Control Proces and Ecoenergis decided to quit the tender proceedings. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 7) M.M.