The Ukrainian government has set the task of cutting the consumption of imported gas by two times in 2009, First Deputy Premier Oleksandr Turchynov said live on the Ukraina TV Channel late on Thursday.
"We should cut by two times the consumption of imported gas over the year [of 2009], he said.
Turchynov said the task is to be achieved both by increasing energy efficiency and by switching to alternative fuel types.
In particular, he said, it is more profitable to use fuel oil than gas. Turchynov said, that "in one, two, or three years" gas would be more expensive.
As reported, in 2009, Ukraine plans to import 40 billion cubic meters of natural gas, which is 26.7% less year-over-year (down from 54.6 billion cubic meters).
