WORK ON POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM IN CRO DANUBE REGION PROGRESSING AS PLANNE

PLANNE $ D ILOK, Aug 8 (Hina) - The general manager of the Croatian Electric Power Industry, Damir Begovic, on Friday said activities for the inclusion of the Danube region of eastern Croatia into Croatia's electric power supply system were progressing according to plan and would be completed by early September. After visiting the electric power-generating capacities and the newly erected diesel power plants in Bilje, Dalj, Vukovar and Ilok, Begovic told reporters in Ilok the Baranja region would be included into Croatia's electric power supply system by the end of next week, while the Dalj, Tovarnik and Vukovar areas by the end of the month. The supply with power of the area from neighbouring Vojvodina (eastern region of Serbia) would then cease, he added. The Croatian Electric Power Industry allocated 30 million kunas for the first connecting of the Croatian Danube region to the Croatian system, Begovic pointed out, adding that war damage to power-generating capacities in the region amounted to USD 150 million. The Valpovo-Beli Manastir and Vinkovci-Vukovar transmission lines would be renovated by 1 October at the latest, Begovic said. Asked who would settle debts for electric power in the Danube region unpaid during the occupation, Begovic said the matter was linked to war damage and would probably be settled in the succession issue of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Croatian Power Industry undertook the obligation to supply the Croatian Danube region with power with an agreement on the reintegration of the region into Croatia' s power supply system signed on 22 July with UNTAES and local Serbs. (hina) ha 082054 MET aug 97