Dnevnik quoted Mr Dimitar Gogov executive head at Bulgaria's gas monopoly Bulgargaz as saying that it could trim gas deliveries to all its clients in the municipality of Shumen, northeastern Bulgaria, over unpaid debt issues with the district heating utility.

Mr Gogov has ordered the suspension of gas deliveries to Toplofikatsia Shumen as of December 28th 2010. The debt laden utility, fully controlled by the local municipality, has refused to take the order into consideration and in turn the town's mayor has issued an order prohibiting Bulgartransgaz employees from being allowed to turn off the gas supply.

A day earlier, local representatives of the ruling GERB party stated they would insist on the resignation of mayor Mr Krasimir Kostov over the problems with the heating utility.

Toplofikatsia Shumen, which owes BGL 15.5 million to Bulgargaz, had pledged to repay BGL 2.3 million of its arrears by December but failed to fulfill its commitments.

(Sourced from Dnevnik)