Photo from UNIAN
The move will allow the solvent category of citizens having gas during the heating season, which they bought at a lower summer price.
Executive Director of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine Yuriy Vitrenko says Ukrainians who receive subsidies for utility services will not be able to use the new Gas Reserve service, offering non-industrial customers to buy up gas at a low summer price to use it during the heating season.
"Those who were assigned subsidies will continue to receive them. This 'Gas Reserve' [service] is obviously not designed for them. But there are people who can pay for gas without subsidies. Such a product [service] was offered to such consumers, when they pay [for gas] at the current price," he told RFE/RL's Ukrainian bureau on August 22.
According to Vitrenko, the move will allow the solvent category of citizens having gas during the heating season, which they bought at a lower summer price.
"We don't expect any significant amount of money since the funds are being transferred indirectly, via regional gas companies. Another question is how much such regional companies will pay to Naftogaz. The interests of consumers are just important in their own right," he added.
As UNIAN reported earlier, on August 21, National Joint-Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine came up with a new service, titled "Gas Reserve," offering non-industrial customers to buy up gas in September at a low summer price to use it later, during the heating season.
Household consumers will be able to purchase up to 25,000 cubic meters of gas at a price of UAH 4,874.42 (US$195) per 1,000 cubic meters. The offer is valid until September 25.