UPDATE 2-Croatia's imports of Russian gas cut by 18 pct

(Releads with fresh delivery cut)

ZAGREB, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Croatia's oil and gas concern INA INA.ZA (HINAq.L) said on Monday that delivery of Russian gas to Croatia had been reduced by 18 percent because of the gas row between Russia and Ukraine.

"Since 1700 GMT delivery of the Russian gas has been cut by 18 percent. The agreed delivery level should be restored by 0700 GMT on Tuesday," INA said in a statement.

INA called upon consumers to hold back on consumption.

"Despite the announcement that delivery will be restored, the situation is serious and uncertain and we call the consumers to rationally consume the gas," state television quoted the INA statement.

Croatia's pipeline operator Plinacro said earlier on Monday that delivery of Russian gas to Croatia had normalised after being cut by seven percent over the weekend.

Croatia imports 40 percent of its annual gas needs, mostly from Russia.

Plinacro said that there could be difficulties on the Croatian market in coming weeks if the gas row between Russia and Ukraine dragged on.

"However, we have defined contingency measures to secure gas supply even in that case," Plinacro's senior official Ivana Markovic said. He did not elaborate.

(Reporting by Igor Ilic, edited by Richard Williams)