The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has created an interagency working group for the collection of debts of natural gas consumers and the improvement of the financial state of national joint-stock company Naftogaz Ukrainy.

The decision to create the group consisting of 14 members is stipulated in cabinet resolution No. 786-r of August 20, 2014.

The group is created as a part of cooperation of the Cabinet of Ministers, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) and the International Monetary Fund.

The action plant is to be drawn up by September 1, 2014, and the monthly plan on payment of debts in groups of consumers for September 2014-December 2015 is to be drawn up.

The group is to draw up proposal on amendments to Ukrainian laws on removing obstacles in collection of debts and provision of the functioning of obligatory distribution accounts in the heat supply segments and submit them to the cabinet.

The group is to report to the cabinet every month.

The group includes energy and coal industry minister, deputy minister, first deputy finance minister and deputy regional development, construction, housing and utilities economy ministers, and the deputy justice and interior ministers. The group also includes deputy heads of the State Financial Inspectorate and the State Fiscal Service.

Heads of Naftogaz Ukrainy, Ukrtransgaz and Gaz Ukrainy could be members of the group (on a voluntary basis).

As of August 26, 2014, the total overdue debt of heat supply companies, combined head power plants and industrial companies to Naftogaz Ukrainy amounted to UAH 19.708 billion.

Naftogaz Ukrainy unites oil and gas production assets in Ukraine, and is the country's gas transit, underground gas storage, and oil pipeline transportation monopoly.