Photo from UNIAN
Analyzing gas price indicators on European stock exchanges, the energy ministry found out that gas prices there had dropped significantly, while growing in the Ukrainian market.
Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk says gas prices for households will reduce by about UAH 700-UAH 800 (US$26-$30) per 1,000 cubic meters if the National Joint-Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine applies gas pricing indicators set by the government.
"The Ukrainian Prime Minister has repeatedly said that gas prices don't correspond to those in the market. At the latest meeting of Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers, we passed changes to Resolution No. 293, which established the relevant indicators for Naftogaz for gas sales to households. If the indicators are applied, gas price will go down by nearly UAH700-UAH 800," he said during a Q&A hour at the Verkhovna Rada on June 7.
According to Nasalyk, analyzing gas price indicators on European stock exchanges, the energy ministry found out that gas prices there had dropped significantly, while growing in the Ukrainian market.
"I think that the problem of Naftogaz of Ukraine lays with Naftogaz itself. If the company fulfills its obligations on unbundling into separate structures, as it was being supervised by the government, and the gas transmission system is separated, Naftogaz will do what it should do, that, is act as one of many dealers operating in the Ukrainian market," the minister added.
As UNIAN reported earlier, on June 5, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman called NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine an "insatiable monopoly" over the gas prices the company sets for households, which Groysman said exceed those set in the market.
On June 5, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Kistion announced that the Cabinet of Ministers had made a decision that makes it impossible for Naftogaz to speculate on gas prices. Moreover, the national company should reduce the price of natural gas for households by UAH 800-UAH 900 in June 2019.