05 April 2011

POLAND: C.Bank Raises Benchmark Again...In Inflation Fight; TM Grad Insists That 2 Nukes Will Be Built.

BLOOMBERG

     For the second time in 2011, the central bank raised the benchmark 7-day interest rate...by 25 basis points...to 4%...to curb inflation.
     And for the 5th month, March's inflation was above.... 2.5% target.
   “Poland is in an expansion phase, and our role is to prevent the economy from overheating,” said cbank gov.Marek Belka (pictured). “We don’t see it happening yet, but our responsibility is to foresee what will happen a year or more ahead, which is why we acted today.”

AND: On building new nuclear plants:
      TM Aleksander Grad (pictured below) told the Guardian: "Of course it's time to review and analyse [safety] carefully but it wouldn't be right to make a rash decision, a 180 degree turn.
     Poland is not at risk of earthquakes and tsunamis. The problem in Japan was not the power plants themselves, but the earthquake. We need to make a decision based on rational analysis and not emotions."
     On privatization: "The scope of the privatization program is unprecedented in the whole region of central and eastern europe. We carried on throughout the crisis even though some projects were put on hold."
    But it has run into some problems recently, including ending plans to sell a 51% stake in Enea, its third-largest energy group, after bidders did not meet its requirements.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/05/poland-nuclear-programme