PKN Orlen considers Rafineria Gdanska acquisition

PKN Orlen has said it is interested in taking part in the privatization of Rafineria Gdanska (RG). In comments made yesterday on the sale of RG, PKN Orlen vice president Slawomir Golonka said, "Orlen must take part in the process. The decisions are not up to us, but they cannot be taken without Orlen." He added that acquisition of RG should make it easier to negotiate the sale of a 17.6% stake in PKN Orlen to a foreign investor. It remains unclear what form a consolidation might take. PKN Orlen president Zbigniew Wrobel has stated he would prefer a takeover of the refinery. But he has also said he believes Treasury Minister Wieslaw Kaczmarek supports a share transfer arrangement, which would strengthen the Treasury's position in PKN Orlen. Meanwhile, the Treasury has given assurances that it will take PKN Orlen's plans into account, should the on-going negotiations with Rotch Energy on the sale of RG fail to bring any agreement. (Puls Biznesu, p. 6; Prawo i Gospodarka, pp. 1, 7) M.K.