The government of Ukraine is intending to initiate an increase in natural gas tariffs for the general public. The government of Ukraine is intending to initiate an increase in natural gas tariffs for the general public, Vice Prime Minister Sergiy Tigipko has said on the ICTV channel.

"We will have to increase gas and some communal services tariffs. I can say we will do this only for rich people, for those who are able to pay," Tigipko said.

Tigipko said that the government "will make every effort to ensure the poorest [residents of the country] are not affected."

As reported, the National Electricity Regulatory Commission of Ukraine (NERC) on December 30, 2009 retained ceiling gas prices for industrial consumers and budget organizations.

It was expected that the corresponding prices for the second quarter of 2010 would be revised. But the government under a resolution of March 3 recommended that the NERC not increase gas prices for the public, heating municipal enterprises and industrial enterprises in 2010.