Ukraine has set the goal of reducing natural gas consumption 30%, Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Prodan told Interfax-Ukraine.

"We will now enact measures to reduce consumption, depending on how much we receive [in imports from the EU]. The goal is to reduce consumption 30%," he said.

Ukraine plans to import as much gas as it can from the EU, Prodan said.

"The capacity [for gas imports from the EU] totals about 15 billion cubic meters a year. Taking a half year, that is 7.5 billion cubic meters. That includes the volumes that will pass through Slovakia from September 1," he said.

Naftogaz Ukrainy, acting on instructions from Prodan, has restricted gas supplies to two combined heat and power plants in Kyiv and two in Kharkiv.