"We will comment on this proposal when talks are finished," Zachowicz told

He was speaking after the biggest Polish daily newspaper, Gazeta Wyborcza, had said that the refinery had been approached by US company Kellogg Brown and Root, which specialises in construction for the oil industry.

The Gdansk Refinery is currently being privatised.

The newspaper said that the role under discussion was rebuilding and modernising petrochemical installations in Iraq.

Poland's economy and employment ministry on Tuesday asked Polish companies interested in playing a part in the reconstruction of post-war Iraq to put their names forward.

Poland has firmly backed the US hardline policy towards Iraq and around 50 Polish soldiers are taking part in US-led operations there.

SPACE.WIRE