Restructuring of heating companies' debts to begin after their analysis, verification by specially created commissions – PM

KYIV. Sept 2 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Cabinet of Ministers creates territorial commissions for the analysis and verification of debts of heating companies for consumed gas, after which their restructuring will begin in accordance with law No. 1639 of July 14, 2021, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said.

"In order for the restructuring process to work as soon as possible, we are adopting a regulation on territorial commissions that will deal with the issue of analyzing and verifying the volume of debts," the Prime Minister said during a government meeting on Wednesday.

"We will analyze each enterprise and each region, how many production costs there are, how justified these debts are. Everything will be checked and the restructuring process will begin," he added.

According to him, the responsibility for the reliability of information about debts lies with heads of heating companies.

At the same time, he welcomed the President’s signing of law No. 1639, indicating that the document provides for the restructuring of debts of heating companies for consumed natural gas and will help reimburse the debt arising from the difference in tariffs for heat and hot water.

"The implementation of the law is a step towards improving heating companies and their modernization. Tens of billions of hryvnia will be compensated. This will allow the local authorities to balance issues with tariffs […] It will also allow heating companies to properly pass the heating season," the Prime Minister said.

According to him, the government no longer sets tariffs and therefore gives heads of heating companies the necessary tool "to make these tariffs fair for the people."

As reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky at the end of August signed the law adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on measures aimed at overcoming crisis and ensuring financial stability in the natural gas market (No. 1639).