Gas reduction for industrial and other unprotected customers begins

Starting from Saturday, January 10 at 8 AM, measures of the 5th and 6th degree of natural gas supply restrictions will be introduced for industrial and other unprotected gas customers, the Ministry of Economy, Labor and Entrepreneurship reported.

The Ministry explains that the implementation of these measures followed after today’s extremely low temperatures affected the increase in consumption and the state of the gas system, and after certain market participants did not adhere to the previously prescribed restriction measures. They emphasize that the implementation of the 5th and 6th degree measures is of “fundamental importance for the rapid stabilization of the system and the continuation of reliable supply for protected customers,” namely the reliable supply of households, hospitals, schools, kindergartens, and other institutions of special public importance.

“From the moment the Government of the Republic of Croatia declared a state of crisis in gas supply, despite the absence of imports from Russia, the measures taken until today have ensured stability in the system. However, today’s extremely low temperatures, which directly affect the state of the gas system, and the non-compliance of certain market participants with the provisions of the crisis plans have not led to the expected results,” the Ministry’s statement reads.

It is particularly emphasized that the situation in the City of Zagreb is especially difficult, where, compared to the announced maximums from the crisis plans, a 10 percent increase in consumption has been recorded. Despite the obligation from the declared 4th degree of gas supply reduction to industry, shopping centers, and other unprotected customers, an increase in gas consumption has been recorded today in distribution in Varaždin, Osijek, and Vinkovci.

“Therefore, we hereby inform natural gas consumers and the public that circumstances have arisen due to which the previously implemented measures to reduce natural gas supply for certain categories of consumers are insufficient to balance the gas system, and for the purpose of further reduction, or suspension of gas supply, from January 10, 2009, at 8 AM, the measures of the 5th and 6th degree from Article 6 of the Regulation on the Safety of Gas Supply (NN 112/08) will come into effect, necessary to maintain the pressure in the system that arises from the extraction of gas from the pipeline accumulation,” the Ministry reported.

They emphasize that the implementation of these measures is of “fundamental importance for the rapid stabilization of the system and the continuation of reliable supply for protected customers” (in the category of protected customers are households, hospitals, schools, kindergartens, and other institutions of special public significance). The Ministry continues to appeal to citizens to rationally use all available energy sources. In further efforts to stabilize conditions in the system at these extremely low temperatures, every reduced degree in households is a significant contribution, it is emphasized in the Ministry’s statement, which continuously monitors the state of the natural gas market supply in the Republic of Croatia in cooperation with the Croatian gas transmission system operator Plinacro.

In the statement, signed by the advisor to the Minister of Economy and spokesperson Tomislav Mazal, it is announced that the Ministry will timely inform the public about all further activities related to the supply of natural gas. Otherwise, according to the Regulation on the Safety of Natural Gas Supply, the 5th degree of supply reduction implies the suspension of gas supply to all customers directly connected to the transmission system, except for HEP, while the 6th degree provides for the suspension of supplies to all customers connected to the distribution system, except for protected customers. As learned from the Ministry, in the implementation of the 5th and 6th degree measures, care will be taken of all companies that could suffer damage to their facilities due to the suspension of gas supply, i.e., they will be at a technological minimum. (H)