NJSC “Naftogaz of Ukraine” emphasizes the critical importance of raising gas utility rates for the public in April, as it was stipulated by the Memorandum with the International Monetary Fund, as the company’s CEO Andrei Kobolev said at the 12th annual investment conference of Dragon Capital on Thursday, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
“In March the rates should be changed. If we do not do it, we will waste a chance. This is important not only for “Naftogaz”, but also for the whole country”, Kobolev said.
He added that due to the previous increase of rates they managed to reduce the deficit of the NJSC budget as well as the country in general.
“We should complete reforms. If we stop on halfway, the result will be negated”, said Kobolev.
The CEO of the NJSC also noted that the tempo of conducting reforms in 2016 versus two previous years has considerably decreased, however, he expects that government and parliament have enough political will for completion of reform in the energy sector.
Currently the gas price for these categories of consumers, taking into consideration transport, distribution and tax rates , is UAH 2.994 ths for one thousand cubic meters (BST for heat production), UAH 3.6 ths for one thousand of cubic meters (reduced price for the public) and UAH 7.188 ths for one thousand cubic meters (standard price for the public).
Previously Prime Minister Arsenii Yatseniuk reported that the energy rates for the public in Ukraine will be raised on April 1.
