The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is waiting for the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approves the prices of gas extracted by Ukrgazvydobuvannia, the gas that will be sold to households for generate heat, a source in the Ukrainian government has told Interfax-Ukraine.

The source said that this decision is an important step for completing the second revision of the IMF-supported Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program for Ukraine.

The IMF asked to accelerate resolving the issue in the middle of March. The fund said that the step was agreed in the memorandum signed in July 2015.

Energy and Coal Industry Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said on March 18 that the government had not yet decided on the increase of gas prices for households from April. He said that the memo signed with the IMF really implies the increase of gas prices for households from April 1, 2016 to the level equal to 75% of the price of imported gas.

Naftogaz Ukrainy Head Andriy Kobolev said on March 23 that the Cabinet of Ministers had not yet prolonged the duty of Naftogaz to form the gas reserve for households. The term for granting the duty expires on March 31, 2016. He said if the cabinet does not issue the resolution, the holding would have to sell all its gas on the market at the market prices, including to households and heating supply companies.