Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is concerned over the low level of regions' payments for the natural gas delivered to them.
She expressed this concern when opening a meeting on this problem.
"Based on the materials available to me as the prime minister, and the government, one can say the situation is alarming. Payments are being made untimely and not fully," Tymoshenko said.
Gas payments have always been a key component of Ukraine's national security, she added, and the government cannot every time cover their deficit from the national budget.
"We cannot but be anxious about the situation when in one region payments make 100%, and in others do not even reach 60%," the prime minister emphasized.
On top she noted that the majority of gas suppliers (regional gas distribution companies) are private enterprises, and thus the government is ready to hear their proposals on normalization of the situation.
As Ukrainian News reported, Haz Ukrainy, a subsidiary of the Naftohaz Ukrainy national joint-stock company, reported for April a decline in the rate of payment by municipal heating companies for natural gas consumed during the 2007 - 2008 heating period (starting from October 1, 2007).
Haz Ukrainy will cut gas supplies to municipal heating companies on June 1, 2008 if they fail to make 100% payments for gas deliveries in the 2007 - 2008 heating season.
