Steel chief criticizes lack of decision-making as losses head for zl.1.4 billion

According to information released by the Hutnicza Izba Przemyslowo-Handlowa (HIPH), the steel sector chamber of commerce, losses by the industry this year may amount to as much as zl.1.4 billion, 50% higher than last year. During a press conference yesterday, Romuald Talarek, director of the HIPH, warned that there has been a dangerous lack of decision-making for the sector since the elections. He called for quick decisions on establishing the giant steel conglomerate Polskie Huty Stali (PHS) in order to protect the four steel mills involved, Sendzimira, Katowice, Florian and Cedler, from bankruptcy. Talarek said that the country's steel mills are becoming more indebted to the banks and that financing their current production is becoming increasingly more expensive at a time when they are rapidly losing market share. The HIPH head explained that the steel sector, "Does not have to be expanded, but its modernization should be completed. And there is no money for that at the moment." (Rzeczpospolita, p. B3; Puls Biznesu, p. 11) P.W.