Russia: Fuel Supplies Cut to Some Regions

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Nando Times

Fuel supplies cut to some Russian regions

The Associated Press

MOSCOW (September 30, 2000 2:29 p.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - Russians huddled in parkas indoors and ate cold meals in a Siberian city and a southern province Saturday after natural gas company cut off the tap because of debts.

Residents of the Siberian city of Omsk told Russia's state-connected ORT television that they looked forward to riding public transport because it was the warmest place in town. One old woman wrapped in scarves heated tea on an old overturned iron because her gas stove doesn't work.

Store managers said demand for electric heaters, stoves and teapots had spiked since the gas was shut off. Independent NTV television said talks between city officials and natural gas monopoly Gazprom on resuming gas and fuel oil supplies had stalled.

Gas supplies have also been cut sharply to the entire southern region of North Ossetia. Kazbek Karginov, first deputy premier of the province, urged Gazprom to reschedule the debts before winter sets in, the ITAR-Tass news agency said.

Earlier this month, an electrical utility cut off power to a strategic missile base for unpaid bills, panicking top government officials.

The cutoffs highlight Russia's chronic web of nonpayment, in which large companies and government agencies don't pay cash for energy, raw materials and taxes - a habit that economists say drags down the economy.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), September 30, 2000

Answers

Didn't I just see this story on another thread?

Anyway, non-payment of debts is a good excuse. I don't think Gazprom can deliver. They cut deliveries on some export contracts about 6-9 months ago.

-- JackW (jpayne@webtv.net), September 30, 2000.


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