xcor
24.11.05, 05:07
WARSAW (AFX) - Poland's new Treasury Minister said he is in favour of wholly
returning the National Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG) to state ownership.
'PGNiG's privatisation was a terrible mistake as now we have a situation in
which a company with state and market functions is listed on the Warsaw Stock
Exchange. Those functions should not be combined,' Andrzej Mikosz told
parliament's treasury committee.
'I will do everything to reverse this situation, maybe by preparing a bill on
nationalising part of PGNiG's assets,' he said.
The previous, left-wing government sold 15 pct of its stake in PGNiG in a
public offering on the Warsaw stock exchange in September, bringing 2.7 bln
zlotys (690 mln eur) into state coffers.
Conservative parties in Poland spoke out against the partial sell-off, saying
it could threaten Poland's energy security.
Mikosz is part of Poland's new minority conservative government which took
office early this month.
He also called for companies in the energy sector to remain in state hands
and estimated that privatisations would earn Poland 6.0-7.5 bln zlotys in
2006.