Photo from UNIAN
The relevant decision was made at a government meeting on Thursday, July 26.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has extended the Regulation on assigning special duties to the subjects of the natural gas market to ensure public interests in the process of the natural gas market functioning until September 1, thereby leaving gas prices for households unchanged.
The relevant decision was made at a government meeting on Thursday, July 26, the Cabinet's press service said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, the Cabinet of Ministers had decided to postpone the rise in prices of natural gas for households, which were due to be increased from April 2018. The relevant resolution provides for the extension of special public service obligations (PSO) of National Joint-Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine with regard to gas sales to regional gas companies and district-level central heating providers without a change of price until June 1, 2018. On May 30, the Cabinet extended the special obligations for Naftogaz to sell gas for the needs of households until August 1, 2018.
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Gas prices for households are set at UAH 6,958, or US$261, per 1,000 cubic meters. It is UAH 4,942, or $186, excluding VAT and transmission costs.
The issue of gas prices for households is the subject of talks between Ukraine and the IMF. The IMF insists that gas prices on the domestic market be adjusted (raised) to achieve parity with the price of imported gas. At the moment, bringing the prices to import parity corresponds to a 30% increase.
According to an UNIAN source, as part of the talks with the IMF, the government proposed several options for a gradual gas price increase. However, the IMF rejected them.