Zagreb Mayor: Close Down Gas Valves, Be Rational

Mayor Bandic believes the Croatian government and the ministry know what they are doing, adding he would follow their lead.

ZAGREB, CROATIA – Regardless of a 40-day deadline, which is how long it will take the Croatian capital to be left without gas, if normal gas supply from Russia is not established, Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic invited the citizens to close down their valves and be rational while using gas.

- The only thing I can do is to appeal to close down the valves a bit and act rationally. We could have charged a four to six percent margin, just like every time after prices go up, but we revoked this – Bandic said, adding that the citizens will be supplied with gas.

He added that he believes the government and the ministry know what they are doing and he will continue to follow and listen to them.

- Over the past few days, we have seen some things that have not been done, like the message from President Mesic, which is a few years old – Zagreb Mayor Bandic pointed out, handing over the word to former Croatian Electric Power president Ivo Covic, now Zagreb Holding company director.

Covic: This situation was caused by weaknesses from Croatia

According to him, the situation is serious, but this is not the first time something like this has happened.

- This situation was not caused only by gas from Russia, but also weaknesses which exist in Croatia. Gas, heating and electric energy systems are connected. Supplies of light distillate oil, water in accumulators and the situation in the City Gas-Works guarantees that there should be no problems. The Gas-Works company is under the Holding company and we are monitoring the programme, but cannot affect the current situation – Covic said.