BRATISLAVA, Jan 10 (Reuters) - The Slovak government on Saturday decided because of Russian gas supply cuts to restart a nuclear power plant unit the country shut down at the end of 2008 to comply with the European Union accession agreement, Prime Minister Robert Fico said.
The government had said earlier Slovakia needed to restart the 440 MW unit at its older nuclear power plant Jaslovske Bohunice because it needed additional power generating capacities after deliveries of Russian gas were cut completely earlier this week.
'We are aware that this is a violation of the accession agreement, but this is happening at the time of a crisis,' Fico told a news conference after the government made the decision at an extraordinary meeting.
'Damage from violation of the accession agreement is smaller than damage that would be caused by a collapse of the electricity system.'
Fico said the unit should resume power production in less than six days, and would remain in operation until Slovakia has guarantees of 'absolute stability' in gas supplies.
Bratislava declared the state of emergency with gas supplies on Tuesday, under which gas firm SPP, run by GDF Suez and E.ON, is reducing gas deliveries to large customers with annual consumption exceeding 60,000 cubic metres to a 'safe minimum'.
Gas-powered electricity capacities were also among the sectors affected by gas supply restrictions, which threatened the stability of the power grid, the cabinet has said.
'Few people are aware that we are close to a blackout,' Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek told the same news conference.
'Only a small malfunction ... and a blackout will affect a large part of Slovakia.'
(Reporting by Martin Santa, writing by Peter Laca) Keywords: RUSSIA UKRAINE/GAS SLOVAKIA (peter.laca@thomsonreuters.com; +421 2 5341 8402; Reuters Messaging: peter.laca.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The government had said earlier Slovakia needed to restart the 440 MW unit at its older nuclear power plant Jaslovske Bohunice because it needed additional power generating capacities after deliveries of Russian gas were cut completely earlier this week.
'We are aware that this is a violation of the accession agreement, but this is happening at the time of a crisis,' Fico told a news conference after the government made the decision at an extraordinary meeting.
'Damage from violation of the accession agreement is smaller than damage that would be caused by a collapse of the electricity system.'
Fico said the unit should resume power production in less than six days, and would remain in operation until Slovakia has guarantees of 'absolute stability' in gas supplies.
Bratislava declared the state of emergency with gas supplies on Tuesday, under which gas firm SPP, run by GDF Suez and E.ON, is reducing gas deliveries to large customers with annual consumption exceeding 60,000 cubic metres to a 'safe minimum'.
Gas-powered electricity capacities were also among the sectors affected by gas supply restrictions, which threatened the stability of the power grid, the cabinet has said.
'Few people are aware that we are close to a blackout,' Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek told the same news conference.
'Only a small malfunction ... and a blackout will affect a large part of Slovakia.'
(Reporting by Martin Santa, writing by Peter Laca) Keywords: RUSSIA UKRAINE/GAS SLOVAKIA (peter.laca@thomsonreuters.com; +421 2 5341 8402; Reuters Messaging: peter.laca.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.