The Russian Lukoil has announced that it is hoping to build a network of at least 200 petrol stations in this country before the end of next year. The company would be prepared to buy these stations or even to take those franchisees who are currently unhappy about working with PKN Orlen for example. Even discounting its internal dispute, PKN Orlen could be about to dispose of around 100 petrol stations this year. The Plock based concern operates just over 2,000 filling stations, 1,400 of its own whilst the rest are flagged with its colours. Beata Karpińska of the Orlen press office says that the company has not yet been approached by the Russians.
Lukoil has also got its eye on the Gdańsk refinery although no official approach has been made. The British Rotch Energy is currently having difficulties in raising the cash and persuading the Polish government that it is a reliable partner.
The Gdańsk refinery has more than 320 stations of which only twenty are directly owned. Rotch Energy said that it wanted to build the network up to 1,000 stations although in the current light that is now looking unlikely. Lukoil has around 3,000 stations, 1,300 in Russia, around 400 in other European countries and over 1,200 in the USA.
The Russians are not only interested in a network of petrol stations but also in the heavy chemical industry. It is interested in the production of methanol. Lukoil might have found its market niche in this country. Despite ten years of trying, not one heavy chemical plant has been successfully privatised. Even the best performer on the Polish market, the Pulawy plant, failed to make a stock market entry last year.