The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has prolonged the term of public service obligations (PSO) to sell natural gas to the population and heating companies at a reduced price until Oct. 27.
According government resolution No. 836 of Oct. 17 posted on its website, the decision comes into effect on Oct. 18, i.e. on the date when the validity of the previous resolution of similar nature is coming to an end.
As reported, government resolution No. 187 dated March 22, 2017 stipulated that the PSOs to sell gas to the population and heating companies would remain in force until April 1, 2018, however, later the government extended them until the end of May, and then until the end of July, August, September, and Oct. 18 respectively.
Under the framework of cooperation with the International Monetary Fund, Ukraine took an obligation to discontinue using PSOs and introduce free-of-control prices, however, in summer and autumn of 2017 it refused to meet it.
At present, the issue of natural gas prices for the public is the key one for the resumption of funding by the IMF.
