Debt pardon for certain companies

The state-run companies subordinated to the Ministry of Industry and Resources will grant a respite to the companies pending privatisation, allowing them to defer the payment of penalties and late charges for the electrical and thermal power and for natural gases, provided they pay their dues for the intervals the respective penalties were calculated for. The Government endorsed the guidelines for the conditions and criteria to settle certain debts of the companies pending privatisation. These debts account for penalties and late charges calculated for the unpaid electrical power, natural gases and heating bills. The guidelines regulate the manner in which the regies autonomes, the national companies and the state-run trading companies subordinated to the Ministry of Industry and Resources are to endorse a ten-year deferment of the penalties and late charges for the unpaid bills calculated by December 31, 2001, on condition that the debts due by January 1, 2002 should be paid. The applications for deferment are analysed according to the score obtained by the debtor and calculated according to the economic-financial performance and financial discipline criteria. ZF