Serbian minister quits over power crisis

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Serbia's Energy Minister has resigned in the midst of the Yugoslav republic's worst-ever winter energy crisis.

Srboljub Antic cited his "personal failure" in coping with the severe power shortage.

"I consider that perhaps I failed to do enough ... and so I must bear part of the responsibility in the matter," said Antic.

He was to step down in January anyway when Serbia's new government takes office.

Angry Belgrade residents have protested at the power shortage, including eight-hour blackouts, by turning over rubbish containers and using them as barriers on tram lines on Thursday. Traffic lights were not working due to the blackouts.

VIDEO CNN's Alessio Vinci reports on "a catastrophic shortage of electricity". Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

But there was hope for the new year as the Russian gas monopoly Gazprom agreed on Thursday to resume shipping natural gas to Yugoslavia, starting January 1.

"This is the good news," said Antic before resigning.

Two electricity-generating units at a major power plant supplying the capital and much of northern Serbia broke down on Thursday.

Serbia's premier-designate, Zoran Djindjic, urged Belgrade residents against protesting. "I understand your anger and your fury. But we can't make something out of nothing," he said.

Officials blamed a summer drought, an abnormally mild winter, low water levels in rivers and forced cutbacks on hydroelectric production for the shortage.

The power grid also was poorly maintained during ousted President Slobodan Milosevic administration, when the government was strapped for cash because of international sanctions imposed over the ethnic wars in the Balkans.

Russian gas supplies resumed recently after earlier disputes over Yugoslav gas debts were settled but were insufficient to head off the crisis.

Cash-strapped Yugoslavia depends heavily on Russian oil and gas, especially with its energy infrastructure damaged by last year's NATO-led bombing.

The resumption of supplies came after a meeting in Moscow between Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and Russian President Vladimir Putin that settled payments for old gas bills.

Kostunica promised that Yugoslavia, which owes Gazprom more than $300 million, would honour all its debts.

Antic said Thursday's deal called for a total of 53 billion cubic feet of natural gas from Gazprom for the next year, with the first delivery January 1.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Lights out in Serbia
December 26, 2000
Putin pledges gas supplies to Yugoslavia
October 27, 2000

Federal Government of Yugoslavia
Serbian Ministry of Information
Gazprom

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