With the IMF team scheduled to fly home today, the government is still negotiating the main stumbling block: the formula for increasing the price of household gas.

With the IMF team scheduled to fly home today, the government is still negotiating the main stumbling block: the formula for increasing the price of household gas. Over the next 18 months, household gas prices are to gradually rise to parity with import prices, Andriy Kobolyev, CEO of Naftogaz, said Tuesday at a European Business Association forum. Without specifying the schedule of hikes, he said: “There is an agreement on a gradual increase in the price…to so-called total import parity by April 2020.” Currently, household gas prices are 40% below levels charged industrial users. This price difference tempts distribution companies to sell ‘household’ gas to industries — and to pocket the difference.