OREANDA-NEWS. December 30, 2013. President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych has signed the instruction on the solution of immediate issues related to the reduction of natural gas price for Ukrainian consumers in 2014.

The document has been signed in order to increase the efficiency of functioning of National Joint Stock Company "Naftogaz of Ukraine" and ensure the solution of immediate issues related to the reduction of natural gas price for Ukrainian consumers.

The Head of State has instructed Prime Minister Mykola Azarov to ensure the elaboration of that issue and make respective decisions by December 30.

Also, by January 10, 2014, the Prime Minister must ensure the elaboration and submission for the consideration of the Verkhovna Rada of the draft law on amendments to the Tax Code providing for the exemption from the value added tax of operations on the import of natural gas into the customs territory of Ukraine.

Under the document, Vice Prime Minister Yuriy Boyko and Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Eduard Stavytskyi have been instructed to take urgent measures on the increase of guarantees of transparent activity of NJSC "Naftogaz of Ukraine" taking into account the requirements of the Initiative of Transparency of Extractive Industries by January 31, 2014.

The President has also instructed E. Stavytskyi to ensure holding of the analysis of technical conditions of underground natural gas storage of PJSC "Ukrtransgaz", available volume of natural gas in the storage and balance of supply and distribution of natural gas of NJSC "Naftogaz of Ukraine" in 2010-2013. In addition, the Head of State instructed him to conduct an audit of NJSC "Naftogaz of Ukraine" for the period of 2010-2013 in accordance with international standards.