Prime Minister accepts resignation of minister in charge of energy privatization

Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek has accepted the resignation of deputy Treasury Minister Jan Buczkowski, who was responsible for privatization of the country's power sector. It was not clear who would replace him. Buczkowski supervised the sale of six energy firms and the creation of the country's power exchange and balancing market, which were seen as key factors in the liberalization of the sector. Buczkowski offered to quit in August after the resignation of Treasury Minister Emil Wasacz. It raised fears of a slow-down of power sector sell-offs. Poland needs to liberalize its power sector to meet entry conditions for the European Union (EU), but still 28 power producers remain in state hands and only one of 33 distribution companies has been offered to foreign investors. (Reuters)