Preem may sell its Polish pumps after serious losses

Puls Biznesu claims it is possible that Swedish petrol chain Preem will sell its Polish subsidiary. The Swedish concern has recently made serious losses and is considering the sale of its 80 petrol stations in Poland. An anonymous market insider claims that, "The Swedes have already sent offers to several big players in the industry." Preem Polska representatives refused to comment on the matter. "I cannot deny nor confirm this," Igor Pawela, Preem Polska director of development, told Puls Biznesu. According to Pawela, the final decision will not be made before the privatization of Rafineria Gdanska (RG). "If RG merges with PKN Orlen, there will be a need for an alternative source of fuel in Northern Poland. We would certainly take advantage of that opening," said Pawela. Meanwhile, Preem has undertaken drastic measures to minimize its operational costs in Poland. On March 15 the company signed an agreement regarding the purchase of 250 million liters of gasoline from RG for over zl. 500 million, as opposed to continuing importing it from Sweden.(Puls Biznesu, p. 3) M.T.K.