KUTINA: PRODUCTION OF NATURAL FERTILISERS DISCONTINUED

KUTINA, Jan 25 (Hina) - The director of Croatia's only chemical industry 'Petrokemija' from Kutina, Josip Jagust, told reporters on Thursday the industry's last plant, for the production of natural fertilisers, stopped operating this afternoon due to the lack of gas. Together with five farmers' associations, two unions of workers in Petrokemija rallied yesterday in front of the parliament building in downtown Zagreb to peacefully protest against the dire situation in agriculture and a cut in gas supply to Petrokemija's artificial fertiliser plant. Speaking about problems in the company's operation and gas delivery, Jagust criticised statements made by representatives of the Croatian Oil Industry (INA) and parliamentary deputies on Petrokemija's allegedly incompetent management. INA offered the contract on gas delivery in 2001 in line with the principle 'take it or leave it', Jagust said, adding Petrokemija had agreed to the contract despite a ten percent increase in gas prices and other terms of the contract because it did not want gas supply to be cut off. In many previous years, the quantity of gas was linked exclusively to extremely low temperatures, which failed this year, however, gas supply was restricted regardless of general terms on the categorisation of consumers, Jagust said. The spokesman of a headquarters for the protection of Petrokemija, Zeljko Klaus, said the workers were satisfied with yesterday's meeting with Parliament Speaker Zlatko Tomcic but not with statements made during question time at yesterday's lower house session, especially those by Vice Premier Slavko Linic. They therefore announce a big rally of workers in Kutina for tomorrow and the signing of a petition for Linic's replacement. (hina) rml