PKN Orlen close to deal with station owners after months of dispute

The management of PKN Orlen and owners of the company's patron stations have worked out three possible solutions to ease the growing conflict between the two groups. Mutual accusations of not fulfilling contractual obligations over the past months have grown to the extent that many owners of patron stations began talks with foreign companies to join other fuel supply networks. The compromise foresees three possible solutions. The first is continuing cooperation on the basis of the same contract, but Orlen would create an investment fund to help in modernization of the patron stations. The second option envisions permission from PKN Orlen to form a purchasing group by the patron stations, which would facilitate negotiation of more favorable gas prices with the company. The third idea is to sign franchising deals, which guarantee better prices, marketing support and use of the company logo. (Puls Biznesu, p. 9) A.K.