The Russian gas disruption brought about by its dispute with Ukraine has spread to four former Yugoslav countries Tuesday, sending them into worries amid freezing cold weather.
Serbia, who should be celebrating the Orthodox Christmas Eve on Tuesday, was completely cut off from Russia's gas supplies via Ukraine and Hungary, the official Tanjug news agency reported.
A statement from the government press office said that the cabinet met in a telephone session to adopt a number of measures to cope with the current crisis, including obligatory replacement of natural gas with other sources of energy, and import of additional amounts of electricity.
Meanwhile, Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic assured that Serbia has sufficient amounts of heating oil and that the stability of the electric power delivery is on a high level.
Consumers have been asked to halt natural gas consumption in order to minimize the damage and all Serbians have been asked to save on all types of energy.
Slovenia was in a better situation with gas supplies from Russian having gradually increased to half of the normal supply following a complete cutoff in the morning, the official Slovenian Press Agency reported.
Slovenian distributor Geoplin said in a statement that it "is using all available supply sources and is emptying its reserves at the maximum rate in order to supply natural gas to all its customers without interruptions."
Geoplin has called for all its customers to use gas economically although its storage is enough for a month and a half.
An official from the Economy Ministry has warned that Slovenia would be forced to reduce consumption should Russia stop supplying gas completely.
Bosnia was facing a much terrible situation when its gas supplies from Russia having been halved. The country has no gas reserves and relies entirely on the Russian gas supplies via Ukraine, Hungry and Serbia.
Bosnia's main gas operator BH Gas has asked all consumers to use gas rationally and resort to liquid fuel in order to retain enough gas supplies for those who have no alternative energy sources.
Croatia was receiving only 15 percent of gas from Russia following a complete cutoff in the early morning, the official Hina news agency reported.
It is necessary to reduce natural gas supply in certain sections in accordance with the government's regulations, the report said, citing a statement from Croatian oil and gas company INA.
The underground storage and gas produced by wells belonging to INA cannot make up for the shortfall, the company said.
INA called on consumers to practice economy on gas consumption and promised that households will remain the priority.
Russia cut off gas supplies to Ukraine on Thursday after the two sides failed to reach a new deal for 2009 and debt repayments. Around 80 percent of Russia's gas exports to Europe pass through Ukraine.
Source:Xinhua
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