Ruhrgas plans large expansion into Polish energy market

German gas giant Ruhrgas has announced that its bid for the Szczecin heating company SEC is only the first step in its broad strategy for the Polish market. Ruhrgas is bidding for a 49% stake in SEC in conjunction with German energy group MVV. The investor will be chosen by February. Ruhrgas is also looking for more corporate gas clients in western Poland who would make feasible the construction of a zl. 360 million gas pipeline from Bernau, Germany to Szczecin. Potential clients could include another heating company, ZE Dolna Odra, and state-owned chemicals plant ZC Police. Ruhrgas would build the Bernau-Szczecin pipeline in consortium with Bartimpex, a leading Polish gas trading company. Rurhgas' strategy could endanger the plans of a group of Polish companies to build a terminal for gas shipments into Szczecin. (Puls Biznesu, p. 4) T.J.