Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ZAGREB9
2009-01-08 15:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Zagreb
Cable title:
UPDATE ON IMPACT OF NATURAL GAS CUTOFF ON CROATIA
how-toVZCZCXRO2333 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHVB #0009 0081509 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 081509Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ZAGREB TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8901 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000009
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG ECON PGOV PREL HR
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON IMPACT OF NATURAL GAS CUTOFF ON CROATIA
REF: ZAGREB 00006
UNCLAS ZAGREB 000009
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG ECON PGOV PREL HR
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON IMPACT OF NATURAL GAS CUTOFF ON CROATIA
REF: ZAGREB 00006
1.(SBU) At close of business Zagreb time on January 8 the situation
with the natural gas cutoff in Croatia remains largely unchanged
from reftel. The Croatian Ministry of Economy spokesperson confirmed
to post that still no gas is coming in from Russia. Households
continue to be unaffected. The Ministry of Economy spokesperson said
they issued a request to the 37 local gas distributors yesterday to
minimize distribution to industries, but they have not gotten a
response yet as to whether reductions have been implemented. The
Croatian power company (HEP) spokesperson told post they are not yet
concerned about operating at minimal levels of natural gas. They are
prepared to switch to alternate fuel (oil) in such situations and
can cope at this level of gas for some time. Press reports quote HEP
representatives saying they have heating oil supplies for 40 days
for Zagreb. Press reports also indicate INA is negotiating for more
supplies from Italy and possibly North Africa in case the cut-off
from Russia persists.
2. (SBU) The media is running stories about the effect the gas
shortage is having on Croatian businesses. Additionally, the
Ministry of Science, Education, and Sports is scheduled to make a
decision on Saturday whether to delay the opening of schools after
the winter break due to gas cutoff. So far complaints about the GoC
response have been fairly limited; however, today opposition MP
Ljubo Jurcic of the SDP criticized the GoC for not being prepared
for the crisis.
BRADTKE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG ECON PGOV PREL HR
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON IMPACT OF NATURAL GAS CUTOFF ON CROATIA
REF: ZAGREB 00006
1.(SBU) At close of business Zagreb time on January 8 the situation
with the natural gas cutoff in Croatia remains largely unchanged
from reftel. The Croatian Ministry of Economy spokesperson confirmed
to post that still no gas is coming in from Russia. Households
continue to be unaffected. The Ministry of Economy spokesperson said
they issued a request to the 37 local gas distributors yesterday to
minimize distribution to industries, but they have not gotten a
response yet as to whether reductions have been implemented. The
Croatian power company (HEP) spokesperson told post they are not yet
concerned about operating at minimal levels of natural gas. They are
prepared to switch to alternate fuel (oil) in such situations and
can cope at this level of gas for some time. Press reports quote HEP
representatives saying they have heating oil supplies for 40 days
for Zagreb. Press reports also indicate INA is negotiating for more
supplies from Italy and possibly North Africa in case the cut-off
from Russia persists.
2. (SBU) The media is running stories about the effect the gas
shortage is having on Croatian businesses. Additionally, the
Ministry of Science, Education, and Sports is scheduled to make a
decision on Saturday whether to delay the opening of schools after
the winter break due to gas cutoff. So far complaints about the GoC
response have been fairly limited; however, today opposition MP
Ljubo Jurcic of the SDP criticized the GoC for not being prepared
for the crisis.
BRADTKE