Ukraine shuts off Crimea's water tap

[dipsydoodle]

Crimea relies on the rest of Ukraine for 80-85 percent of the water that it consumes.

"It used to be an integral system, but because of the occupation of Crimea, there is now a question – who will pay for the water?" Groysman said.

There are 124 water operating companies in Crimea that lack legally binding agreements with Ukraine’s State Water Resources Agency. Groysman noted that all of these companies have received letters with invitations to sign agreements, but have not responded so far.

Interestingly, the State Water Resources Agency denies the stoppage of water supplies to Crimea through the North Crimean channel. It only admits that since April 28 the speed of water flow has slowed – it decreased to 11.1 cubic meters per second from 13 cubic meters per second on April 23.

The agency emphasizes that Crimea still receives water, though there are no legal grounds for that. Since April 28, Crimea started taking away 35 percent more water, according to the agency.

http://www.kyivpost.com/content/business/groysman-ukraine-shuts-off-crimeas-water-tap-345528.html

[moondust]

1. Who will pay for the water?

Gas? Electric? Everything else?

Ask this guy:

[pampango]

2. I believe that 80% of Crimea's electricity comes from Ukraine as well.

Major economic consequences as Crimea splits from Ukraine

The land is intensely farmed. Wheat, corn and sunflowers are the main crops, along with livestock and fruit production. It is also one of Ukraine’s main wine producing regions.

But that agriculture needs water, which mostly comes from outside Crimea, from the Ukrainian mainland. More than 80 percent is brought by canal from Ukraine’s Dnieper River.

Energy is another vital import. According to some estimates, Crimea could just about be self sufficient in natural gas – extracted from the Black Sea – though currently two thirds of its power needs come through the rest of Ukraine.

Crimea has some solar and wind energy power generation capacity, but over 80 percent of its electricity also comes from the mainland.

http://www.euronews.com/2014/03/15/major-economic-consequences-from-crimea-splitting-from-ukraine/

You would expect that eventually that Russia will become the main supplier of water and electricity to Crimea but that will take time. In the meantime Ukraine should continue to supply water and power to Crimea (particularly if they still consider it to be a part of Ukraine), keep track of the debt if payment is not made and, eventually (if Crimea remains a part of Russia), write it off against the debt it owes to Russia for natural gas.

[dipsydoodle]

3. There was a note somewhere or other

that Russia need to build 3 new power stations there. meanwhile I'd assume there will some sort of trade off between continued supply of utilities by Ukraine in return for continued supply of gas.

[malaise]

4. have no fear - their oil will be cut off

in this tit for tat.