Russian oil companies Jukos and Surgutnieftgaz seek out entrepreneurs

While the decision continues to linger on the sale of oil producer Rafineria Gdanska to the Rotch Energy - Lukoil consortium, two Russian oil giants - Jukos and Surgutnieftgaz - prepare to enter the Polish market. Both companies have independently contacted Konsorcjum Gdanskie (KG), which is grouping together private owners of gas stations, to enter into close co-operation. "The Russians want to enter our company as a strategic investor and to create a network of fuel stations on the basis of Polish entrepreneurs. They will provide both the financial means and the know-how. At present, we need fuel supplies for 70 outlets, but plan to increase this number to 1,000 stations over five years," claims KG president Feliks Jaskiewicz. He also added that during Tuesday's General Shareholders' Meeting, it was decided to increase the company's share capital from zl. 0.68 million to zl. 6.68 million, a proportion of which would be taken by the investor. KG's management now has to convince small entrepreneurs to agree to the terms of co-operation with one of the Russian companies. KG also has firm political support, as the president of the newly chosen supervisory board is Slawomir Miller, the younger brother of Prime Minister Leszek Miller. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 3) M.M.