INA, PETROKEMIJA SIGN CONTRACT ON GAS SUPPLY

ZAGREB, Feb 8 (Hina) - The Croatian oil industry INA and the Kutina- based artificial fertiliser factory Petrokemija signed in Zagreb on Friday a three-year contract on the provision of natural gas, which binds INA to supply Petrokemija with 400 million cubic metres of gas annually at a price of 10.26 cents per cubic metre. Petrokemija will receive the said quantities of gas in the period between March 15 and October 15, and outside of that period it will be supplied with gas according to the potential of the gas supply system. Since Petrokemija needs around 600 million cubic metres of gas annually for normal production, INA officials have said they will invest efforts to provide sufficient amounts of gas. The latest contract increases Petrokemija's gas supplies by 50 million cubic metres and extends the period during which gas supply is guaranteed. Petrokemija workers staged a protest rally last December over INA's failure to deliver gas needed for the production of mineral fertilisers, which caused a 40-day stoppage of production. The non- delivery was caused by low temperatures and increased consumption of gas by other consumers. (hina) rml