According to AO MOSENERGO, SSCAM’s refusal to pay its electric bill could lead to a serious ecological problem. Under the electricity supply contract signed by the two organizations, AO MOSENERGO can stop supplying electricity to SSCAM if it fails to pay for it. However, in order to preserve scientific specimens, the center must maintain a required temperature regime, which would be impossible if there were no electricity.

SSCAM management has ignored the terms of the AO MOSENERGO contract and refused to pay the accumulating debt—48 million rubles, which accrued, from October 1998 to March 2002. However, SSCAM has found funds for its mainstream activities.

During the last two years AO MOSENERGO has repeatedly proposed to restructure SSCAM debts as well as asked the government, State Duma and Ministry of Healthcare for help in settling debts incurred by SSCAM as a result of electricity consumption. On January 9, 2002, AO MOSENERGO and SSCAM reached an agreement under which SSCAM’s management guaranteed that current payments would be made in January–February 2002, with the monthly amount reaching 2.5 million rubles. SSCAM’s management also promised to act to restructure 2000–2001 debts, which reached 38,767,000 rubles. AO MOSENERGO has not received any money while SSCAM continues current consumption without payment.

In addition to AO MOSENERGO’s letter to the Moscow Region Prosecutor’s Office in which the company is seeking scrutiny of SSCAM actions which would lead to ecological problem. AO MOSENERGO has already drafted a petition to the Moscow Arbitration Court to terminate the electricity supply contract with the center. Prior to the termination of the contract, AO MOSENERGO will try again to recover its money from SSCAM. The next scheduled partial electricity cut-off of one of three main 110 kV lines is scheduled for Thursday, April 11, 2002.