Daniel Obajtic: I give myself a month to think about what I'm going to do

In an interview with “Puls Biznesu”, Obajtic commented, among other things, on the following: accusations of politicization of Orlen. – There is no such thing as a non-political president of Orleans. This position has always been political. Regardless of who was in power, the decision to serve as president had to have political approval. Obajtic said there was nothing strange about it.

At the same time, he added, “It is worth judging Orlin CEOs by their results.” – I believe that the balance of my six years in Orlin – the increase in profits, investments, scale of operations, number of gas stations, especially abroad, installed capacity in the field of zero-emission energy, mining – proves that all activities were focused on business, not politics – Speak .

In response to a comment that before the elections, Orlen maintained low fuel prices, which, according to analysts, cost it about PLN 2 billion, he replied that the margins achieved by Orlen “should be viewed over a longer period than a month or two, but at least for a whole year.” “

– We record good profits. At the same time, we must respond when events may cause fear or loss among consumers. We kept fuel prices stable when Russia attacked Ukraine, which caused significant volatility in global markets. He said we did the same last year when the escalating conflict in the Middle East raised concerns about oil prices.

When asked “whether he should resign from his position as political head after the previous government lost the elections,” he replied that he “was always at the disposal of the company's legal bodies.”

– The Supervisory Board has not changed yet, so its current composition will have to delegate someone to carry out the tasks. The current Orlin Board of Directors held the general meeting without any hindrance. There will be a vote on changes in supervision. He then confirmed that I would say goodbye to my position.

Referring to the question whether he was not afraid that the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau would wake him up soon, he replied: – If someone wants to make an offer, he will do it. Orlin's development and results allow me to look in the mirror every morning with a clear conscience.

In turn, when asked about other plans, he stressed that he had not made “binding decisions” yet. – In a company like Orlin there must be continuity, and I am at the disposal of the new supervisory board in the event of any changes. I give myself about a month to think about what I'm going to do. He added: “I am a workaholic. I work from morning until evening, so I will not remain idle.”

In April last year, President Orlin referred to a scenario in which PiS loses power on RMF FM. He announced at the time that if the then opposition took power after the parliamentary elections, he would resign from his position.

– I think it's natural that they thank me, because if the opposition announces things that are unrealistic: a lady talks about the price of fuel at five zlotys, and when I ask her how to do it, she says she doesn't know then I don't want to run Orlin, which will generally be managed through an economy Organized and you will return to communism – said Daniel Obajtic at the time.

– I will not go ahead with sick plans that will lead to disaster for this country, so it is difficult for me to approve them. I'll go myself, and you won't even have to thank me. “I have my honor and my dignity,” the Orlean chief said in April.

Daniel Obajtek has been the president of Orlen since February 2018. While he ran a Polish oil company, there was a lot of controversy surrounding him. It concerns, among other things, the origins of the Orlen chief.

Orlen's merger with Lotos also raised doubts, as a result of which the company was forced to sell shares in the Gdańsk refinery, among other things. To complete the deal, Orlin chose a giant oil company – Saudi Aramco from Saudi Arabia.

In July 2023, the Financial Supervision Bureau prepared a report on, among other things, the merger of Orlin with Lotus after the inspection by the Ministry of State Assets. The document was found by Black and White journalists Lukasz Fračak and Dariusz Kubik. According to the Supreme Audit Office, Saudi Aramco paid PLN 7.2 billion less for the Lotus stake than it was entitled to.

An extraordinary general assembly is scheduled to be held in Orléans on February 6. The agenda was completed with an item related to changes in the composition of the company's supervisory board. In the next stage, Daniel Obajtic may lose the position of president.