Since 2003 prices for electric power transfer and railroad transportation will increase in Kazakhstan

/REUTERS, Astana, December 20, 02/ - Since January 1 of 2003 there will be increase of tariffs in Kazakhstan for electric power transfer through the networks of the company KEGOK and cargo transportation on railroad, said on Friday the head of the Agency on natural monopolies regulation and competition defense Yerbolat Dosayev. According to his words, tariff for energy transfer through the networks of interregional level of electric network national company KEGOK will be increased by 6.9% to KZT0.493 for kilowatt-hour. The reason of increasing is decrease of the volume of electric power transfer through these networks and realization of the program of national networks modernization, which is made by KEGOK. Railroad monopoly Kazakhstan Temir Zholy increases tariff for cargo transportation, excluding container ones in the republican service by 5.9% and by 3.9% for export-import direction, excluding export of coal. "Thye increase has been caused by the necessity of the company to realize investment program taking into account high depreciation of the main funds", - says the antimonopoly agency's press-release. In Kazakhstan tariffs of natural monopolies are reexamined every quarter, however it is expected that since the New Year a new legislation will take effect, according to which tariffs will be reexamined once in half a year. [2002-12-20]