Ukraine Tries to Defuse Tensions Maintaining Stability in Gas Sector

Ukraine is trying to maintain stability in its gas sector though a mix of reforms and support to its citizens, comments by the country's prime minister indicate. The country is also trying to defuse tensions by turning the spotlight on the visa-free regime and on the European integration. 

"60 thousand households have received monetary assistance for the insulation of their homes [and] the replacement of boilers. And there have already been issued initial credits for condominiums when residents of a building decide to hold insulation and energy modernization,” Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk said on Wednesday. 

Yatsenyuk also said that, in the first nine months of 2015, the volumes of natural gas consumption in Ukraine had fallen by 19% with respect to the same period in 2014.

"It has proved possible due to the fact that we reformed the gas sector, introduced market rates at the first stage, provided the most extensive program of subsidies and launched an energy efficiency programme,” he commented during a Cabinet meeting.

Also on Wednesday, Naftogaz said that its debtors continue transferring money. According to the Ukrainian company, the debt decreased by 1.6% with respect to the previous week. 

Meanwhile, the political leadership stressed the importance of getting closer to Europe.

“Visa-free regime is our priority today,” Ukraine’s President, Petro Poroshenko, commented in a separate statement.