Summary of Contingency Plans
for Energy,
Telecommunications
and Banking



Slovak Republic

C o n t e n t s

A Y2k

Energy

Electricity

The upgrade and testing of systems was completed by September 30. Contingency plans were elaborated in September and will be implemented until November 30.

The enterprise Slovak Power Plants (Slovenské elektrárne) has a 50 % production capacity reserve. All power stations will work on a reduced capacity, so that in case of failure in a specific plant the demand can be covered from an other source. The staff on duty will be doubled including persons mastering manual control procedures. Also a permanent conference of dispatchers agreed with Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic will be maintained 8 hours before and 8 hours after midnight from December 31 to January 1 to provide mutual service.

The electricity network enterprises are ready to confirm their y2k preparedness to customers on request. Taking into consideration all the above mentioned activities no problems in electric energy supply arising from the Y2k problem are expected.

Gas and Oil

The final testing for compliance with the Y2k was completed by September 30, 1999. Contingency plans were tested by October 15 and will be implemented by November 30.

Risk assessment takes into consideration a possible interruption of gas and oil supplies from Russia and outages of power and telecommunication. Measures have been taken to build up maximal stocks of gas and oil, schemas for reduced supplying of customers were elaborated, alternate ways of communication (radio, television, motorized messengers) were agreed.

A Contents

Telecommunications

Contingency plans will be prepared by the end of October 1999 and implemented by November 30.

The aim of the Slovak Telecommunications (ST) is to achieve 100 % operational functionality of the telecommunication networks and continuous operation of all telecommunication services provided by the company. In the Y2k critical time periods the operative network management teams will be strengthened and ˝round-o-clock˝ on site standby status of all key technical experts will be guaranteed under direct management of the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Y2k contingency plans aimed at ensuring full functionality of critical business processes within the company is planned to be concluded by the end of October. The critical business processes cover activities generating 98 % of the ST revenue from the range of services provided by the company to its customers.

A Contents

Banking

Contingency plans are under development and will be implemented until November 30.

Contingency plans include human resources reinforcement, extension of limits of business operations, solution of sudden break-down of correspondent bank links and of cash distribution, solution for ensuring liquidity and also solutions for customers who will be not Year 2000 compatible.

The international settlement system SWIFT declares it’s compatibility with the Y2k and recommended to all it’s members - administrators of settlements - technical solutions for Y2k. The respective implementation was done by the National Bank of Slovakia in the first quarter of 1999 and tests did not discover any problems in that area.

The national payment settlement system is provided by the Bankové Zúčtovacie Centrum Slovenska a. s. (the Slovak Clearing Centre, a joint stock company). The Company finished the testing by the end of June 1999 and compliance with the Y2k was established by the end of July 1999.

The compliance with the Y2k of ATMs lies in the responsibility of the Autorizačné Centrum Slovenska, (the Authorisation Centre of Slovakia, a joint stock Company founded by commercial banks in Slovakia). The ACS declares officially full safe operation of plastic cards and ATMs after January 1 2000.

Detailed English information on the Y2k compliance of Slovak banks can be found on the web site of the National Bank of Slovakia ( http://www.nbs.sk/Y2K/MPSA.HTM) as well as on the web sites of most commercial banks.

A Contents