Warsaw (Puls Biznesu) – Some dozen companies, included listed ones, are interested in producing biofuel in special economic zones in Poland. However, they will have to limit their projects.
The Ministry of Economy has just decided what part of biofuel production may be located in special economic zones, i.e. relieved from taxes.
“We have consulted the matter with the Ministry of Agriculture. Their interpretation is as follows: biofuel production may be located in a special economic zone if it starts with oil. You cannot proceed grains into oil in a zone”, Teresa Korycinska from the Ministry of Economy explained.
The Entry Treaty provides that food production cannot be subsidized by the government via tax relieves in special economic zones.
The decision may influence the plans of listed Elstar Oils. The company said it would invest PLN 27.2m (EUR 6.8m) and employ 90 people in Walbrzyska Special Economic Zone.
“It is a kind of difficulty for the investor but I hope that the company will decide to have the first stage of production outside the zone and it will proceed oil into biofuel in the zone”, Miroslaw Greber, the CEO of the zone said.
The representatives of Kostrzynsko-Slubicka zone, another out of 14 special economic zones in Poland, also hope for similar solutions.
“The mills producing oil can be located outside the zone while the biofuel production can e in the zone. We have two German investors who have been waiting for the decision from the Ministry only. I hope they will be satisfied with the decision. Each of them will spend EUR 15m and employ 50-100 people”, Dariusz Lesicki said.
(PLN 1 = EUR 0.252)