The Naftohaz Ukrainy national joint-stock company regards as unsatisfactory the level of payment for natural gas by regional and municipal gas distribution companies.

Naftohaz Ukrainy's press service announced this in a statement, a copy of which Ukrainian News has.

"Gas distribution and gasification enterprises paid only 79% of the due sum in 2007, and only 88% over four months of 2008," reads the statement.

Naftohaz Ukrainy stresses, monitoring data show that the population pays for gas better, 90-95% of the amount charged.

"Some of business groups, having concentrated control over a certain number of gas distribution and gasification enterprises through offshore companies, are trying to conceal their own debts by accusing subsidiary Haz Ukrainy," reads the statement.

Naftohaz Ukrainy underlines that the Haz Ukrainy subsidiary owes nothing to the Kharkivmiskhaz gas distribution company, and has an insignificant debt of some UAH 36 million to other enterprises that are part of the Hazeks Ukraine group: the gas distribution companies Dniprohaz (Dnipropetrovsk), Donetskmiskhaz, Kryvorizhhaz, and Kharkivhaz.

"Yet, all regional gas distribution companies of the Hazeks Ukraine group owe more than UAH 164 million to Haz Ukrainy for 2007," the statement says.

Hazeks Ukraine said in a statement Haz Ukrainy and Ukrhaz-Energo owed it UAH 54 million and UAH 31 million, respectively, for 2008 and UAH 48.5 million and UAH 32 million, respectively, for 2007.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Cabinet of Ministers has directed the Fuel and Energy Ministry, the Justice Ministry, and the Economy Ministry, together with Naftohaz Ukrainy and the State Property Fund, to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against regional gas distribution companies that fail to pay for natural gas supplied to them.

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is concerned over the low level of regions' payments for the natural gas delivered to them.