Svyrydenko: Fuel prices should be formed without internal speculation

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko says that JSC Ukrnafta will serve as a benchmark for fair prices on the market so that there is no internal speculation.

"I held a meeting with key representatives of the oil products market. We coordinated further actions in connection with the current situation on the fuel market, which is mainly driven by external factors. Our common task is to ensure the uninterrupted availability of fuel in the country. The government expects that market operators – both the state-owned company Ukrnafta and private companies - will ensure the proper filling of the market with fuel and its stable availability for consumers throughout the country," Svyrydenko wrote in the Telegram channel.

The Prime Minister emphasized that fuel prices should be formed fairly, taking into account the current situation, in particular on world markets, but without domestic speculation.

She added that Ukrnafta will serve as a benchmark for a fair price on the market.

"Controlling bodies, in particular the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine and the State Consumer Protection Service of Ukraine, should properly monitor the price situation and respond to cases of possible speculation in the market. At the same time, it is important to ensure that their work does not create unreasonable pressure or obstacles to bona fide business," Svyrydenko noted.

The Prime Minister instructed the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Energy, Denys Shmyhal, to ensure daily coordination with market representatives at the Ministry of Energy to promptly resolve current issues, including those arising in the work of market operators.

"Separately, Minister of Economy Oleksiy Sobolev, together with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Energy, are working on possible support models for those categories of consumers who will most need assistance in connection with the significant increase in prices for petroleum products," she added.