KRSKO NUCLEAR PLANT ANNOUNCES REDUCED ELECTRICITY FOR CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 0744 ) ZAGREB, July 30 (Hina) - The Krsko nuclear plant, which is on Slovene territory but is jointly owned by Croatia and Slovenia, on Thursday announced reductions on the delivery of electric power to Croatia, citing Croatia's DM25 million debt as the reason. The Slovene power utility company announced it would disconnect the transmission line to Croatia today, in line with a decision of the Slovene Ministry of Economy. The Krsko plant notified Croatia's utility company (HEP) that the power it used to submit to Croatia would be offered to the Slovene counterpart. According to the Croatian Ministry of Economy and HEP, the Krsko plant does not have the right to reduce the power supply to Croatia. Croatian Assistant Economy Minister for Power Supply and Mining Roman Nota said Croatia did have debts, but nowhere near the figure cited by Slovenia. Responding to Krsko, HEP said Krsko could not deliver HEP-owned electricity to the Slovene counterpart, as it would represent a violation of the contractual obligations in force. HEP called the steps the Slovene counterpart had made as unauthorised and illegal. Even though short-term difficulties would arise in maintaining the power supply system if Krsko stopped supplying Croatia with power, HEP is willing to satisfy power supply throughout Croatia through its own plants, HEP said in a statement on Thursday. HEP also recalled that Krsko's temporary management had not made a valid decision on the cost of electricity, adding that until such a decision was reached HEP was willing to pay fuel, plant and maintenance costs of 2.05 U.S. cents per kWh. (hina) ha jn 301459 MET jul 98