OREANDA-NEWS. January 15, 2009. The Government will initiate on the base of local gas mains creating the state regional supply companies. Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko announced during a meeting with heads of central and local executive authorities and local self-government bodies.

“The Government has approved a conceptual decision, that on the base of state local gas mains we will create state regional supply companies which are to guarantee delivery of gas to consumers,” Yulia Tymoshenko stressed.

The Head of Government noted that such state companies shall be set up in compliance with laws and current Constitution.

The Premier also added that an owner of local gas mains appear not regional or municipal gas companies, but the state: “Local gas networks were not sold to anyone”.

Yulia Tymoshenko reminded that for now 75% of regional gas companies belong to companies of Rosukrenergo co-owner Dmytro Firtash which is a violation of antimonopoly legislation and is contrary to common sense. “We should cease the situation when one private company spins the country in gas supplies to areas, regions and towns. It should be the function of the country and the state must keep full responsibility for that,” the Head of Government emphasized.