Highlighting the top political barrier to a deal with the IMF, industrial gas prices rise on Saturday to double the level of household gas prices.

Highlighting the top political barrier to a deal with the IMF, industrial gas prices rise on Saturday to double the level of household gas prices. Naftogaz is raising the price of gas for industrial consumers by 21%, to $365 per thousand cubic meters. The rate charged households remains $176 per thousand cubic meters. Three years ago, industrial prices were allowed to float to the level of market imports. One year ago, the government failed to fulfill a promise to the IMF to start raising household prices. As an IMF team prepares to arrive here next week, a new government decision extend the household gas price freeze through September is winning mixed reviews.