Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Russia cutting supplies of natural gas to Tbilisi by half

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Russia cutting supplies of natural gas to Tbilisi by half

    ITAR-TASS News Agency
    TASS
    March 10, 2004 Wednesday

    Russia cutting supplies of natural gas to Tbilisi by half

    By Dmitry Zlodorev

    MOSCOW

    Russian foreign trade company Gazexport, a subsidiary of the natural
    gas producer Gazprom, is expected to cut by a half the supplies of
    natural gas to the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi as of March 15,
    Gazexport sources said Wednesday.

    The upcoming slash results from non-payments for gas over the past
    few months, with the total debt reaching 7.4 million U.S. dollars.

    Itar-Tass Tbilisi-based correspondent Ia Barateli said earlier
    Gazexport supplies 1.7 million cubic meters of gas to the city a day,
    and if the local operator of gas distribution lines, Tbilgazi Co.,
    manages to pay 2.5 million U.S. dollars in the next few days, there
    will be no slash.

    In the meantime, Georgian experts say the problem of back payments
    comes partly from irregular financing of Tbilgazi by the local
    authorities. This finance should cover the cost of gas consumed by
    low-income people, public health institutions and social facilities.

    Alexander Ryazanov, a deputy CEO at Gazprom, gave assurances earlier
    this month the company would continue deliveries of gas to Georgia.

    He said at the same time Gazprom was concerned by the technical
    condition of the trunk pipelines by which Russia was pumping gas to
    Armenia.

    "We're worried by the lack of repair works at the gas pipelines in
    Georgia," he said.
Working...
X