International Business / The Pacific

BP to Invest in Central Europe: British Petroleum Co. said it plans to spend between $500 million and $600 million to open more than 200 gasoline and diesel fuel filling stations, BP Czech Republic manager Matthias Baus said. At the end of 1995, British Petroleum operated seven filling stations in the Czech Republic, 19 in Hungary and six in Poland. The proposed expansion would put 40 new stations in the Czech Republic, 10 to 20 in Slovakia, 50 in Hungary, 150 in Poland and 15 in other countries in the region by 2000, Baus said. BP Gas said it plans to invest between $20 million and $40 million in light propane butane production facilities in Central Europe. BP Gas recently bought a liquid propane gas bottling plant outside Prague.