PKN Orlen to get closer to its retail customers with new chain of gas stations

By the end of this year, 30 stations will be operating under the Bliska logo, while this number is to grow to 170 in 2006. The company estimates the cost of the whole project at over zł.700 million. The new brand is designed to save the company's falling market share in the retail sector, which has been diminishing by around 2% annually since 1990, presently at 27%. "Thanks to the restructuring of the network and creating the new brand we want our share to return to 33% in 2009," said Wojciech Heydel, PKN Orlen's deputy president. In related news, PKN Orlen has yesterday made it to the second round of consultations concerning the take over of Lithuania's Możejki refinery. The only competitor left in the tender is KazMunaiGaz from Kazakhstan. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B1) (Puls Biznesu, p. 12) A.K.