‘Sverdlovsk Region’s companies owed their gas suppliers 4.862 billion RUR at the beginning of February, while the sum owed by TGK-9 (our greatest debtor) really did exceed 1.5 billion RUR. Nevertheless, this company had only paid 116 million RUR off by February 9, 2009,’ Itera O&G Company’s PR Director Viktor Cheremukhin said to an UrBC reporter.

‘In case TGK-9 fails to pay off the remainder of its natural gas debt, Uralsevergaz will have to gradually introduce gas supply limits starting February 15, 2009. We understand that this is going to badly affect Sverdlovsk Region’s economy, but TGK-9 must also understand its own accountability,’ he added.