OREANDA-NEWS. Ukrainian industrial consumers, government financed institutions, district heating companies and households used 2.38 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas in the first 20 days of March 2015, down 18% versus the previous year.

Government Decree 296 (dated 9 July 2014) aims to reduce gas usage among industrial consumers, government financed institutions and district heating companies. Gas usage among these three major categories was 20% above the target set out in Government Decree 296 in February (compared to 9% above target in February overall).

In volume terms, these three categories used 1.35 bcm of gas in the first 20 days of March versus the targeted 1.13 bcm. Households used 1.03 bcm in the period, 20% down on the previous year. All data excludes Crimea.