The International Monetary Fund hopes that the Ukrainian authorities will conduct the necessary legal proceedings to raise gas prices for households in time and will take steps to protect the most vulnerable sections of the population in this connection.
"An important element of the agreement is that gas prices increases for households will be complemented by a social safety net to protect the most vulnerable in society," Senior Advisor at IMF External Relations Department David Hawley said at a press conference in Washington on Thursday.
"Not much has yet been done in the regard, and so we have some concern about that," he added.
Hawley reminded that the Ukraine authorities and the IMF have agreed that the National Electricity Regulatory Commission will raise gas prices by 20% for households from September 1 and for utilities from October 1, and continue raising gas prices every quarter until prices are brought in line with costs.
At the same time, the increase of gas prices for households has been opposed by the trade unions, and the authorities are currently following up with the necessary legal proceedings to implement the measure, the fund's representative said.
"As far as gas prices for utility companies are concerned, it's our understanding that these will go ahead in October as planned," Hawley said.
He also said that the IMF mission is planning to come to Kyiv for the third review of the Stand-By Arrangement with Ukraine in mid-October.
