National joint-stock company Naftogaz of Ukraine has filed a counter-claim against Kyiv-based municipally owned heat supplier Kyivteploenergo as part of a dispute between the parties over the succession of gas debts accumulated by Kyiv-based power generating company Kyivenergo before Naftogaz and the conclusion of a gas supply contract, Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolev has said.

"Kyivteploenergo has decided to sue us. We have filed a counterclaim. As far as I know, Kyiv-based power generating company Kyivenergo joined the litigation at the request of the court, or at the request of one of the plaintiffs... I hope for a fair decision, a decision that will determine who owes whom, who and what agreements should conclude. I hope the decision will appear soon," Kobolev said on TV Channel 5 on Friday.

He urged the counterparts to demonstrate wisdom in solving the problem.

"In fact, we, like Naftogaz, are also in a hurry in this process – we urge everyone to be reasonable, comply with the rule of law and we hope that by the end of this month we will be able to find a solution," Kobolev said.

As reported, Kyivteploenergo in the middle of June appealed to the Economic Court of Kyiv with a request to recognize an agreement with Naftogaz on gas supplies as signed.

In turn, Naftogaz refused to sign the agreement with Kyivteploenergo as Kyiv State City Administration refuses to authorize the transfer of the debts accumulated by Kyivenergo before Naftogaz to the municipal enterprise Kyivteploenergo. Naftogaz insists that the Administration's decision comes into conflict with Article 22 of the Law on heat supply.

Earlier, the city of Kyiv completed the first phase of transferring the city's heating networks from Kyivenergo to Kyivteploenergo. The second stage, which is expected to be over August 1, 2018, suggests the transfer of Kyiv's combined heat and power plants (CHPP) No. 5 and No. 6 from Kyivenergo to Kyivteploenergo.

The agreement on the use of Kyiv's heating lines (except for Darnytsia CHPP) by Kyivenergo whose 97.4% stake belongs to Rinat Akhmetov's System Capital Management (SCM) expired in April 2018. The municipal authorities decided to transfer the heating system to Kyivteploenergo. Kyivenergo's gas debts before Naftogaz as of April 30, 2018, were estimated at UAH 3.822 billion.