The World Bank Group's International Financial Corporation may allocate a one-year trade finance facility of up to $200 million to cover importation of natural gas to Ukraine during the 2015-2016 winter season by state-owned NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy, the IFC reported on its website.

"The facility will be used to finance the deliveries of ENGIE, major European supplier of natural gas, under their natural gas supply framework contract with Naftogaz," the report reads.

The IFC's Board of Directors is to consider the allocation of the facility on December 17.

"The Facility would provide support to a vitally important industry in the country by contributing to the supply of energy, essential for the functioning of the economy, industrial companies, utilities, and for the well-being and protection of residential customers," the report said.

ENGIE is a global energy player and an expert operator in the three key sectors of electricity, natural gas and energy services. The group has more than 180 years of history in energy business. ENGIE is headquartered in Paris, France and employs about more than 150,000 people globally. The French government has 32.3% stake in the group as a shareholder and remaining stake is held by public (including institutional investors and individual investors).

Since 2014 ENGIE has been one of the major suppliers of natural gas to Ukraine.

Naftogaz is a JSC with 100% shares owned by the state of Ukraine. It is a vertically integrated oil and gas company engaged in the full cycle of gas and oil field exploration and development, production and exploratory drilling, gas and oil transport and storage, supply of natural gas and LPG to consumers, through its different enterprises.

Aside from purely commercial operations, Naftogaz plays an important social role and supplies natural gas to households, budget-funded institutions and utilities at prices set by the state.